Civic 2.0 – National campaign created to advocate for and sustain the Civic University agenda
Richard Brabner has been appointed to lead the policy advocacy campaign, with the NCCPE driving sector practice and engagement.
A new national initiative, Civic 2.0, has been launched to strengthen the role of universities in their towns, cities, and regions. Building on the legacy of the UPP Foundation’s Civic University Commission and the Civic University Network, this next phase will combine the two pillars of policy advocacy with sector-wide capacity building to ensure universities deliver maximum social and economic benefit for the places they serve.
Richard Brabner, former Executive Chair of the UPP Foundation, has been appointed to lead the policy advocacy work. Over the next three years, Brabner will develop practical, evidence-based proposals to advance the role of universities in the places they are part of, connecting universities with business, the NHS, local government and schools and colleges. The programme will campaign and advocate regionally and nationally for the civic university agenda, with the aim of supporting policy makers across the political spectrum to recognise the positive impact universities have in their places and the policies required to leverage that impact further for economic and social progress. This will include policies which drive local economic growth, attract investment, and provide opportunities in towns, cities and regions across the UK. He will work closely with founding partners—the University of Birmingham, Newcastle University, Queen Mary University of London, and the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE)— alongside regional research organisation Midlands Innovation, to advance this agenda.
A Collaborative Effort
Civic 2.0 is a consortium-led initiative, with partners committed to sustaining and refreshing the civic movement. The University of Birmingham will act as the hub for the policy work, while NCCPE will lead on sector practice, hosting the Civic University Network, convening a national Community of Practice, and maintaining the assets of the Civic University Network and National Civic Impact Accelerator. This ensures continuity for the sector and provides a platform for sharing knowledge and accelerating civic leadership. As Director of the policy work, Brabner has been appointed an LPIP Fellow at the University of Birmingham and a Visiting Professor of Civic Engagement at the University of Newcastle. Queen Mary University of London will chair the steering group overseeing the two pillars. The University of Birmingham will be funding this programme from the Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub, a UKRI investment. managed by ESRC in place-based partnership working.
Universities and potential partners are invited to get in touch with Richard Brabner in relation to joining the advocacy programme and the NCCPE in relation to sector practice and to join the new Civic University Network mailing list:
r.brabner@bham.ac.uk / nccpe.enquiries@uwe.ac.uk
Quotes
Richard Brabner, LPIP Fellow University of Birmingham & Visiting Professor of Civic Engagement, Newcastle University said:
“Universities have made significant progress on the civic university agenda in recent years, but policy incentives continue to point in the wrong direction. I’m delighted to work with outstanding partners to build a campaign that unlocks policy solutions and amplifies the positive impact higher education has on our towns, cities, and regions.”
Sophie Duncan, Co-Director of the NCCPE said:
“The Civic University Network and NCIA resources are vital for helping universities deliver on their civic mission. NCCPE is committed to sustaining these assets to share learning, build capacity, and accelerate leadership—ensuring universities create lasting impact for the places they serve. We’re delighted to join this consortium and work with Richard to build on the progress made and take civic policy and practice to the next level.”
Professor Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Engagement & Place, Newcastle University said:
“Newcastle University is fundamentally rooted in its civic mission. As founding partners of the Civic University Network, we are proud to be supporting the next phase of the Civic University movement. We want to ensure the unique and essential role universities play in driving regional and national growth—from skills and social mobility to research and innovation—is recognised at the highest levels. Our goal is to leverage these collaborations to highlight how place-based engagement is key to addressing the UK's most pressing challenges and delivering tangible positive change for the whole country.”
Professor Rebecca Riley, Co-Director City-REDI, Birmingham Business School & Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Regional Engagement, University of Birmingham
“This work represents a critical moment for universities to reaffirm their role as anchors in their communities. At a time when trust in institutions is under pressure and economic challenges are acute, we must demonstrate that universities are not only centres of learning and research but also engines of local growth and social progress. This initiative will help ensure that our sector remains relevant, responsive, and deeply connected to the places we serve.”
Philippa Lloyd, Vice-Principal Policy and Partnerships, Queen Mary University of London said:
“As a founding partner of the Civic University Network and the National Civic Impact Accelerator, Queen Mary University of London is proud to play a leading role in shaping the next phase of civic engagement across the UK. The civic responsibility of universities has never been more critical in addressing national and regional challenges. We remain committed to sustaining the momentum built in recent years and to deepening our impact through place-based partnerships that deliver meaningful change and progress on the ground for the people of this country .”
Alex Favier, Global Campaign Director for the Invest in UK University R&D Midlands Campaign said:
“The Invest in UK University R&D Campaign hosted by Midlands Innovation is a national proof-of-concept pilot for the UK with a remit to develop insight and inform both policy and practice in the higher education sector. Our Pilot has found that attracting inward investment in order to drive growth and create jobs is an increasingly important part of how universities can fulfil their civic mission – both to regional partners and in delivering the UK Government’s mission for growth. We are delighted to be supporting this initiative as something that will help address the current policy ‘corridor of uncertainty’ that FDI into university R&D falls into – and ensuring that learnings from the Pilot are shared across UK higher education”
Notes to Editors:
The UPP Foundation’ s Civic University Commission, under the direction of Brabner and the late Lord Kerslake led to a transformation in the higher education sector with over 70 universities developing Civic University Agreements with their local partners. The Commission led to the creation of the Civic University Network and National Civic Impact Accelerator, forming a movement in higher education to spread good practice across universities. Civic 2:0 is an attempt by leading universities and funders to build on this legacy further by having a tangible impact on policy, which remains stubbornly place-blind.