With higher education undergoing a period of intense change, what is the role of public engagement in addressing these challenges? How can universities better demonstrate the value of what they do? What are effective models for engaging with the public and how can universities and research institutes support staff, students and the public to engage in mutually beneficial ways?
These are some of the questions that will be explored at the conference ‘Engage: making an impact,’ in Bristol on 29th and 30th November 2011. It is the second annual conference hosted by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement and it will bring together university staff, partners across research, teaching and learning, volunteering and knowledge exchange to share ideas and models of effective engagement.
The conference promises a mix of high energy discussion and practical workshops. Speakers will include David Sweeney, Director, Research, Innovation and Skills, HEFCE; Dame Fiona Reynolds Director General of the National Trust; Professor Steve West, Vice Chancellor, University of the West of England; Professor Mary Bownes, Vice Principal, External Engagement, University of Edinburgh; and Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor, University of Lincoln.
Workshops and sessions at the conference include:
Keynote speech by Dame Fiona Reynolds, Director General of the National Trust, reflecting on the shift in emphasis at the National Trust from conservation to engagement. Fiona will share some of the lessons that she has learnt about culture change in practice before challenging the HE sector to think hard about their own core purpose, and what this means for their practice in years to come.
‘In conversation with the Beacons’, is an opportunity for delegates to discuss with the Beacons how they are making sense of embedding public engagement into HEIs, the challenges they faced, lessons learnt from the project, and its relevance to others.
‘Through a glass darkly: measuring the social value of universities’ will explore the insights and conclusions from a new report commissioned by the NCCPE and launched at the conference. The report offers a possible new approach to the challenge of capturing public value, which could make a major contribution to the on-going debate about the public role of universities.
‘Navigating Impact’ brings together HEFCE and RCUK experts to explore the role of public engagement in the REF and Pathways to Impact and offer delegates the opportunity to clarify any points of uncertainty.
‘Does engagement have a future?’ will be explored in the closing plenary by David Sweeney chaired by Professor Kathy Sykes. David will offer his views on the future of public engagement and encourage others to share their views.
Registration for the conference and more details can be found on the NCCPE website here.
- ends -
Further information
To register for a place at this conference please complete the booking form which is available here
For further information about registering for the conference please contact Lisa Adlington lisa.adlington@uwe.ac.uk.
For any press enquiries please contact Saskia Walcott on 07846 120564, or saskia@saskiawalcott.co.uk.
Notes to editors
About NCCPE
The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) was set up in 2008 along with the six Beacons of Public Engagement and is part of a £9.2m, four-year initiative funded by the Higher Education Funding Councils, RCUK and the Wellcome Trust. The Beacons were tasked with developing and piloting methods to embed a culture of public engagement within the HE sector. The NCCPE’s role is to co-ordinate, capture and share the learning and knowledge from the Beacons network to facilitate and encourage public engagement with the HE institutions of the UK. The Beacons’ funding ends in 2012, but RCUK’s commitment continues with the ‘Catalysts for Public Engagement in Research’ scheme.