Our vision for public engagement
The mission of the University of Cambridge is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. Public engagement in its broadest sense fulfils the University’s mission by creating bridges between the academic community and the public, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. The University defines public engagement as the many ways in which we share expertise, knowledge gained, resources and collections to both inform and inspire those we interact with, whilst creating opportunities for experts beyond academia to collaborate on research.
The University of Cambridge as an institution values public engagement as an important aspect of academic endeavour.
Our approach
We enable and support an environment across the University of Cambridge where high-quality public engagement with research can flourish.
We follow the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement definition of public engagement in our work with two-way, mutually beneficial engagement at its centre:
Public engagement describes the myriad of ways in which the activity and benefits of higher education and research can be shared with the public. Engagement is by definition a two-way process, involving interaction and listening, with the goal of generating mutual benefit.
Through an impact-focused engagement approach underpinned by best practice and data, we enable researchers to identify the communities, patient groups and external partners for their research, the pathways required to create meaningful connections between research and society, and to embed inclusive engagement practice. Through relational approaches, support and funding we create structures, projects and opportunities for communities, patient groups and external partners to explore ideas, build equitable relationships with university researchers and shape future research collaborations.
We acknowledge the diversity of engagement channels, which are as diverse as our research and our communities of interest, place or practice. We embrace and support a range of engagement typologies from dissemination to coproduction and participatory methods. We believe what matters the most is for academic researchers, communities and patient groups to find the most appropriate formats to engage effectively and collaboratively. We believe research is best done with others and this engaged research practice best enriches research and enhances the University’s impact on, and contribution to, society.
We have four interlinked strands of work:
- Internal advice, professional development, funding and recognition - for researchers and professional staff to build skills, funding schemes to facilitate projects
- Large scale public events - creating spaces and opportunities for engagement, knowledge exploration and meaningful conversations
- Community engagement - piloting new ways of working with community groups locally and building skills and frameworks for national and global collaboration.
- Patient Public Involvement and Engagement – focused on involving patients and patient representatives in research, particularly in the non-clinical space, and developing tools and methodologies for this work
And four underpinning principles to ensure we engage responsibly and accountably
- Accountability – internally to Head of Engagement, Knowledge Exchange and Impact, to the Director of Research Office, to the PVC Research with reporting to Research Policy Committee. Statutory reporting as part of KEF and HEBCI and externally external to the Community Engagement Advisory Board – comprising Community Knowledge Working Group and the Festival Working Group and to relevant Patient Panels
- Alignment to the knowledge exchange and impact strategy
- Data driven approach
- EDI in engagement
Our approach to EDI in engagement
We value the role we play in reshaping the structures that enable diverse communities to play an active role in knowledge exchange and public debate around the issues at the centre of research and innovation. We are committed to embedding equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) into our work culture, programmes and mission. For us, this commitment is especially significant given the University’s unique positionality. Engagement offers a powerful opportunity to demonstrate the University’s ability to foster inclusive, respectful, and mutually beneficial relationships with local communities.
Our vision for EDI in engagement
The Public Engagement team at the University of Cambridge believes that by making our engagement as accessible and inclusive for the most excluded communities, we improve the experience for everyone.
Driven by our EDI Action Plan, our efforts focus on amplifying diverse voices, perspectives, and participation across our activities and the support infrastructure we provide. Through these efforts, we aim to strengthen our support for communities both within and beyond the research ecosystem at University of Cambridge. We have five key areas of activity:
- Build connected communities of action – we are building coalitions and convening allies by increasing the visibility and awareness of inclusive engagement. Internally, we are doing this through peer networks and with senior academics through our Inclusive Academic Champions Network. Externally, we are developing a community advisory group and actively participating in the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement’s work. Alongside this, we play an active role in the university’s civic agenda.
- Embed a strategic approach to EDI in public engagement – we are integrating our EDI vision into our PE strategy. We will align this with EKEI Team priorities, the Research Office strategy and the University EDI strategy to ensure our work aligns with wider University priorities. We are developing a clear pipeline from early relational development through to impact.
- Deliver impact informed by evidence – we are operating in a context where there is currently little or no usable EDI or demographic data available. We are addressing this gap by establishing a baseline understanding of who we are engaging with and who we are not. This focuses on the research community we support, the public we engage with and the partnerships we foster.
- Develop a diverse public engagement team – we will prioritise EDI in recruitment opportunities, taking advice and training from HR on process and legal requirements for inclusive recruitment. We are planning an apprenticeship programme to create career development and progression opportunities for under-represented staff.
- Foster a culture of inclusive practice – we are creating a culture of ongoing learning, from experts and from each other. We are sharing this learning with researchers and professional staff through networks and regular training in EDI and community engagement. We are embedding community-led initiatives and activities within our festivals, building long-term relationships with community groups and schools.
Get in touch to find out how we can support you
For the public and partner organisations
We also maintain a network of community contacts to nurture charitable, educational and voluntary partnerships between the University and its communities. If you are interested in working with the University to benefit the community, we would like to hear from you.