University of Portsmouth

Why we've signed the Manifesto

"We believe that universities have a major responsibility to engage with their local communities Our location in the very centre of the City of Portsmouth, next to some of its most deprived areas, gives added impetus to this as a strategic priority."

John Craven, Vice-Chancellor, University of Portsmouth

Our approach to public engagement

One of our four strategic priorities is 'To contribute to sustainable economic, social, cultural and community regeneration and development'. This is additional to our widening participation work and aspiration-raising in the subregion. We have a significant programme of student volunteering, complemented by activities organised through our Students' Union. This is hugely appreciated in the local community and also serves to help the employability of our students.

We are active in promoting the public understanding of science through public events and schools visits and we have been involved in Intech, the hands-on science centre for schools. Our staff are committed to public engagement and demonstrate this by contributing their knowledge, skills and experience to a wide range of charitable, school and local authority board member positions. We are involved in various bodies contributing to local and regional economic development, including our Local Strategic Partnership and more recently the Solent Enterprise Partnership. Our staff and students have been engaged in the South East Coastal Communities project which involves the development of facilities for deprived local communities. We are strong supporters of a local theatre, with whom we are engaging in a joint development encompassing their cultural and outreach activities alongside our own student learning facilities in performing arts. Finally, our newly opened dental academy is making a major contribution to improving the oral health of people in the City.