Following the conference, this page will be used to present outcomes from the conference - including summaries of presentations and panel discussions and ideas for future action.

Keynote presentations

"Why should universities engage with communities?" Professor Ken Spencer, Professor of Local Policy, The University of Birmingham (Powerpoint file to download)

Summary of outcomes from panel discussion groups

Widening Participation

• “WP” = social inclusion. A fundamental part of all universities’ missions, not a tack-on extra.
• Very early interventions beneficial. Extended life-cycle: pre-recruitment, recruitment, retention, placement.
• Whose responsibility? – Multiple providers, including HE
• Working class boys – 25% 5 A-Cs
• Children in care – 1% go on to HE
• Part-time students
• Volunteers / Paid ambassadors – complementary roles
• Initiative funding vs. Mainstreaming. Central planning vs. Local autonomy.

Learning and Teaching

Issues:

• Not everyone should be involved in community activities
• Recognise resource-hungry nature of the work
• Recognise menu of opportunities available to students
• Changes can’t happen overnight – need to build relationship with communities so that we have a true partnership
• How should we define community engagement – broader than geography?

Actions:

• Find out what is going on – highlight good practice from students, HEIs and community organisations – a charter?
• Longer-term funding strategies required
• Recognise and value alternative forms of learning
• Recognise and value work in this area with HEI staff
• Should staff get involved with community learning and reflective learning themselves?

Research

• Different forms of community engagement
• Motivating researchers to engage: RAE, Research Councils
• Engaging intermediary bodies
• Accessing research internally & externally
• Economic and social impact studies