How Civic Universities Support the UK Government's Five Missions
Discover how place-responsive universities are already supporting all five government missions through proven partnerships and measurable impact
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A short guide on how place-responsive universities in the UK support the Government's five missions.
Why This Matters Now
Two forces are reshaping British higher education right now. First, unprecedented financial pressure, with 43% of universities facing deficits amid frozen fees and declining international recruitment. Second, explicit government expectations for universities to "play a greater civic role" and support national missions.
This convergence creates urgency around civic engagement. Universities that can demonstrate measurable local impact – like the University of Bristol's Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus or Greater Manchester's zero-carbon partnerships – aren't just fulfilling their own institutional ambitions. These place-responsive universities are simultaneously addressing local needs and supporting the delivery of national priorities.
How Civic Universities are Supporting National Priorities
Kickstarting Economic Growth
- Universities are often one of the largest employers (if not the largest) in their region.
- They hold leadership and convening powers through their Civic University Agreements – formal agreements between local anchor institutions in a region/place.
- They have a track record of developing and delivering innovation to drive new business opportunities.
- They have experience and capacity to help regions develop economic impact assessments.
- Civic university agreements are already delivering projects focused on economic growth in their places, working with local partners to co-create robust shared analysis of local needs and opportunities.
Make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower
- They deliver a range of energy sector-specific qualifications and support to enable people to secure employment in the green economy.
- They have experience, knowledge and research about regional and national energy systems.
- They have expertise in mapping out skills and employment needs within cities and regions, and developing skills and employment pathways with other education providers and industry to meet local needs.
- They work with key stakeholders to develop research and innovation to track and improve the conditions of rivers, and the wider environmental impact.
Safer Streets
Civic universities leverage academic expertise and community connections to create evidence-based solutions for community safety, from Sheffield Hallam's trauma hotspot mapping to Bristol's community cohesion initiatives.
- They conduct research on effective policing strategies and share findings with local police forces, and have supported police-led
violence reduction initiatives to map crime hotspots to target their resources effectively. - They offer criminology and sociology expertise to inform community policing approaches.
- They can provide legal expertise to review and recommend sentencing guidelines, and many offer free or low cost legal clinics and services to their communities.
- They provide training and expertise to police forces on trauma-informed approaches.
- They often offer spaces and resources for youth hubs on or near their campuses
- They can also provide mentorship and educational programs for at risk young people.
Break Down Barriers to Opportunity
Through partnerships like Sheffield Hallam's Early Years Community Research Centre and Durham's Learning Alliance, civic universities are creating seamless pathways from early years through the skills system, and into the world of work.
- Universities work with businesses and local industries to meet the employment needs of their local regions.
- Many civic universities convene local FE colleges, schools and industry partners to develop seamless career pathways through the education system that meet local needs and growth opportunities.
- Some civic universities are developing innovative research and projects to support the Early Years sector.
- They work with their anchor partners in education to develop curriculums, careers advice and wider support to prepare young people for regional employment.
- Many are developing research focused on communities and finding out what types of resource and provision can unlock their potential.
An NHS fit for the future
Civic universities are transforming healthcare through innovations like Birmingham's Health Innovation Campus and Newcastle's Insights North East partnership, directly supporting NHS modernisation and community health improvement.
- Many civic universities are already working with their local NHS partners to understand the current and future skills needs of the local healthcare systems and are convening other educational partners to develop seamless pathways to meet those needs.
- Universities are developing and testing innovative practice and technology that can help to cut waiting lists.
- Many are conducting research and testing preventative health based approaches that will help reduce demand on the NHS.
- Many are developing research focused on their communities and what types of resource and provision can help them to lead happier healthier lives.
- Universities also work with their students to develop mental health provision that meets their needs.
Universities are already delivering on many aspects of the Government's Missions, and have potential to do much more. We have a range of examples taken from published Civic University Agreements between universities and their local partners, including local councils, local government, the NHS and other anchor institutions and organisations.
Examples from Civic Universities
Civic universities are higher education providers that actively seek to benefit their local places and populations and see this as central to their role and mission. They work to make a positive difference within their localities whilst recognising they are not the only, or the most important, organisation in their place.
These institutions engage in civic activities through collaborative and inclusive relationships with local partners. These practices aim to benefit the place and its people, working towards shared outcomes co-produced with local institutions, leaders, and communities.
Below are some examples of how universities' civic missions are addressing national priorities:
