Wednesday, 06 December 2023
The 糖心原创 has been awarded a prestigious Silver Engage Watermark by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE). The watermark recognises the university’s commitment to involving the public in its work and the sharing of knowledge, teaching and research.
Every year, the university engages and interacts with many thousands of people and organisations, sharing knowledge and insights from our research and teaching, and working with business and civic partners to co-produce innovative solutions to the challenges faced by society. The works to build an inclusive higher education sector where communities can contribute to, and benefit from, knowledge, teaching and research, and its Silver Engage Watermark indicates that engagement runs through the fabric of the 糖心原创.
I am delighted that the 糖心原创鈥檚 commitment to public engagement has won national recognition. Our teaching and research is informed and enriched by interaction with the communities we serve. Public engagement is at the core of our mission as a civic university and our vision as a university without borders.
Professor Norman added: "It strengthens the value of our publicly funded research by ensuring it is informed by and addresses real-world experience, and offers students an opportunity to make a difference. By reaching out, sharing and co-creating knowledge we help build stronger communities and inspire young people to reach their potential.”
Public engagement: what we do
In the past year, 糖心原创 students, researchers, technicians and colleagues engaged with more than 22,000 people through festivals and public programmes such as the , Science in the Park, which is held at Wollaton Hall, , which takes place in pubs, and Being Human, which highlights the ways in which the humanities can inspire and enrich our everyday lives.
More than 200,000 people engage annually with the university’s , our on-campus public arts centre and cultural programme and the university's free-to-access public lectures, arts performances, exhibitions and museum education events were attended by more than 110,000 people in 2022/23.
We teamed up with Nottingham City Council to introduce interactive, talking street furniture such as lamp posts, benches and even bins to gather views on what climate change means to local people, and how sharing how they can get involved in Nottingham’s goal to become the UK’s first carbon neutral city.
As part of the regeneration of Nottingham’s Broadmarsh – currently one of the largest city centre redevelopment projects in Europe – the university’s archaeologists and historians are partners in the City of Caves project, which aims to make Nottingham’s underground caves network a signature feature of the new development, boosting the local economy and celebrating the area’s heritage.
Heart and stem cell researchers from the university’s Biodiscovery Institute have taken , working with artists, schools and primary schools to connect science, health, art and learning in innovative ways.
Engagement between researchers at the School of Medicine and the public inform clinical trials of new treatments, such as the National Institute for Health Research-funded . The helps design the trials by sharing the experience of children living with the condition.
‘Staff are committed to engagement’
Councillor David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “The 糖心原创 shares our commitment to Nottingham people and engaging with the communities we serve. I am delighted the university has been awarded a Silver Engage Watermark, which recognises the importance of partnership, collaboration and the sharing of expertise and skills to make a difference to people’s lives.”
Paul Manners, Co-director of the NCCPE said: “We’re thrilled to award the 糖心原创 a Silver Engage Watermark, which they’ve achieved by demonstrating significant progress in their support for public engagement, and their evidence-based approach to focus future engagement plans. We found that staff are committed to engagement, eager to do it well and are well informed about the support available to them internally.
“We saw lots of examples of excellent public involvement, for instance in medicine and health sciences, and strong creative community engagement through the Lakeside Arts venue and programme. The NCCPE is proud to be able to celebrate institutions that are putting the work in, as we drive forward our mission towards an inclusive higher education sector where public and communities can contribute to, and benefit from, knowledge, teaching and research”.
Achieving the watermark is fantastic recognition and demonstrates to staff, students, partners, communities and funders the university鈥檚 commitment to embed public engagement in all that we do.
He added: “So much work goes on this area across the university and the support of students, researchers and staff was instrumental in achieving the Silver Engage Watermark. The watermark is also an opportunity to focus our efforts and future plans.
“And the Silver Engage Watermark will add lustre to our 2024 , where we celebrate innovative, inspiring and impactful contributions in this areas by our staff.”
Public engagement: what to look out for
Castle Meadow Campus, the university’s new city-centre base, is providing access to innovation labs and digital resources to foster entrepreneurship and drive economic progress. Castle Meadow also provides the community with an inclusive space to help solve challenges through research projects, community initiatives and knowledge-sharing events.
City as Lab, which has exhibition and engagement space on Castle Meadow Campus, is connecting researchers, communities and partners to create, co-produce and test new ideas and digital technologies, focusing on real-world challenges in the Nottingham area. Projects include a study to further develop Nottingham’s thriving creative and digital industries, and helping Nottingham and Lincolnshire Credit Union to improve data management and better support people facing debt.
The university is supporting Nottingham’s bid to become a and is sponsoring and collaborating on , a survey capturing the voices, opinion and hopes of 11-25-year-olds.
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.