Takeaways

Resources from CiviCon24, held on 18 & 19 June 2024

What took place?

  • Inspiring Keynote Speakers: Renowned speakers shared their expertise and insights.
  • Engaging Workshops: Participants took part in interactive workshops designed to enhance their skills and knowledge.
  • Networking Opportunities: Delegates connected with like-minded professionals, forging new partnerships, and expanding their professional network.
  • A memorable event: Two half days of insightful sessions and networking opportunities at the modern Institute of Education at Sheffield Hallam University, plus an engaging conference dinner in the iconic Cutler’s Hall, Sheffield with high-profile speakers.

How attendees described CiviCon24

Source: CiviCon24 Delegate Evaluation. Word Cloud includes words used to describe CiviCon by at least 3 delegates. Size of word is indicative of the number of times used (i.e. “inspiring” mentioned by <13 delegates). 

Impact

As a result of CiviCon24…

…my next steps are how to better engage our student experience team in civic activity going forward, [and how to develop] local policy input…

Delegate, CiviCon24

…I will develop a civic theory of change for our institution. I’m also going to connect with colleagues in different institutions to create future learning opportunities.

Delegate, CiviCon24

…[I will] map civic activity across [my institution]; Ensure long term partnership working happens and is supported; Make sure community partners are treated equally, respectfully and in a transparent manner.

Delegate, CiviCon24

…[I plan] to develop a university-wide strategy, increase networking with other universities & develop more reporting and accountability frameworks for our civic university agreement.

Delegate, CiviCon24

What attendees had to say

CiviCon24 generated learning, networking, and innovation in the civic university movement, but don’t just take our word for it. Here’s how delegates rated CiviCon24 speakers:

How did delegates rate CiviCon24 overall?

94%

of delegates were satisfied or very satisfied with CiviCon24

97%

of delegates would consider recommending CiviCon to a friend or colleague

97%

of delegates would consider attending a future CiviCon event

Photo Gallery

Photography by Reece Pinches and Ben Collins, © Sheffield Hallam University, 2024.

Please contact us to request high-resolution images for professional use.

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Participatory Poetry Collection

This collection of poems were written by attendees of the National Civic Impact Accelerator’s CiviCon24 conference, at a workshop delivered by Ben Little and Noel Longhurst from the University of East Anglia.

This experimental workshop brought together a group of relative strangers to share their experiences, hopes, concerns, passions and gifts about the civic university movement. Ben and Noel then helped attendees to distil those sentiments in poetic form.

Storytelling Episodes

We curated an exciting programme for CiviCon24, including a range of Storytelling Episodes, which you can view below. Videos were kindly submitted by CiviFest Speakers, and were displayed on screens throughout CiviCon24.

Parent Power Cardiff

For more info, see here

Children’s University

The Story of an Open Space

Professional Volunteering

Universities for Leicestershire

Deadly Diseases

CiviFest Main Stage

At CiviCon24, we showcased incredible storytelling from the heart of the UKs civic ambassadors. Each of our presenters wowed the audience with their experiences, and ensured that everyone felt inspired to try out their own innovations within their wide ranging roles. We created a relaxed, festival vibe for CiviFest, which offered a welcome respite to the busy catalogue of workshops.

You can watch all our sessions below, and download the accompanying slide pack.

Community Knowledge & Power: The Story of an Open Space Event

Victoria Foster, Edge Hill University

A civic university approach to achieving impactful clasroom, employer and community engagement

Susie Jones, Sheffield Hallam University

Place-based social action in Bristol in partnership with students and communities

Fiona Walsh McDonnell, Student Hubs

A regional cross phase approach to understanding the impact of enrichment beyond the curriculum

Gemma Styles, Higher Education Progression Partnership

Deadly Diseases: a university museum community engagement project

Dr Carol Shiels, St George’s, University of London

Professional Volunteering: Our journey to embed skilled volunteering into the curriculum

Francesca Romita, UWE Bristol

Solent University: Civic Exchange in Action

Mike Toy & Joanne Cridland, Solent University

Utilising HE and FE Collaboration for Civic Impact

Joanne Bowring, University of South Wales

Collaborating to confront the polycrisis of our age

Emily Williams, South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre

Being a ‘civic academic’ – a model for engagement, impact and resourcing

Andrew Reeves, De Montfort University

Within and Beyond the Ideas Lab

A session led by the University of Southampton explored the Ideas Lab – an intensive workshop that brings together multiple diverse perspectives to focus on finding innovative cross-sector solutions to a grand challenge problem.

Click below to download slides from the session!