Outreach and public engagement

How universities can use civic engagement and collaboration to get local communities and the broader public involved in their research and other work and generate positive impacts felt beyond the campus walls. These resources also explore effective ways for academics, educators and other teams to reach out and engage with school pupils and groups underrepresented in higher education to break down potential barriers to access.

A meeting takes place around a long table

How to engage with stakeholders for research that matters

For meaningful research impact, stakeholder engagement has to be genuine and built over time. Follow these tips for better collaboration

Andy Phippen, Louise Rutt

Bournemouth University, University of Plymouth

Barbed wire and a security camera on a brick wall

What learning behind bars can teach us about the university classroom

A partnership with a prison helped one educator see her university teaching in a different light. Find out how

Sobia Razzaq

University of Westminster

View from a sailing ship on the ocean

Turn your research into a Hollywood-worthy story

Take a leaf out of a master storyteller’s book. If you want your research to be noticed, transform it into a story. After all, it worked for Charles Darwin…

Simon Hall

University of Cambridge

Are academics becoming overexposed on LinkedIn?

Social media is key to building an academic network but what about the darker side of putting your professional life on global display? Larisa Yarovaya explores the balance between polished presence and oversharing

Larisa Yarovaya

University of Southampton

A close-up of a microphone

How to demonstrate the worth of arts and humanities-based research

Express the tangible benefits of your creative work and practices, by showcasing public value

Mette Hjort

The Education University of Hong Kong

Young Muslim female student in university classroom

What universities gain from involving displaced students in civic engagement

Civic action not only gives displaced students and refugees a sense of belonging and agency, it brings academic communities benefits such as cultural insight and leadership skills

Jonathan Becker, Zarlasht Sarmast

Bard College

THE Awards 2025 image

THE Awards 2025: lessons from the stars of UK and Irish higher education

Learn from leading voices, innovative teams and individuals across the university sector, whose work has been recognised in the shortlist for this year’s Times Higher Education Awards

Campus contributors, Eliza Compton

Campus

UK pound coins and a calculator

Why universities must step up their efforts as civic institutions

As major employers and civic bodies, universities have the opportunity – and responsibility – to work with local communities to drive meaningful change. Here are lessons from community organising

Farhan Samanani, Michael Bennett

King’s College London

Mother holding small child’s hand

‘We stopped talking at communities and started working with them’

From consultation to collaboration, a ‘new’ approach to building meaningful community-university relationships results in connection, trust and true partnership

Kimberley Simms, Luke Parmenter

Nottingham Trent University

Older man in university class

How to build a bridge from adversity to university

In this video, academics explain the essential elements – initial outreach, support and an interdisciplinary approach – behind the success of the Adversity to University bridging programme

Christopher Smethurst, Becky Edwards, Sandra Lyndon

University of Chichester

Chester, UK

Lessons from first-time festival planners

Co-creating a large-scale, impactful public event can seem more like a ‘would love to’ than a ‘must’, particularly in the face of resource pressures or lack of an established culture or calendar. Here’s advice learned from developing a four-day festival from scratch

Sarah Cameron, Jane Pearson, Hannah Perkins, Katherine Wilson

University of Chester

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Campus talks: the role of universities as bastions of free speech and open debate in polarised times

An expert in constructive dialogue and a free speech campaigner explain how universities can nurture productive disagreement and uphold the principles of free speech and academic freedom in the face of growing polarisation

Caroline Mehl, Abhishek Saha

Constructive Dialogue Institute, Queen Mary University of London

A podcast host speaing to an unseen interviewee

Bridging the digital knowledge gap between generations with podcasts

Faced with students who seemed to know it all, one educator used podcasting to build engagement and intergenerational dialogue about how digital technology is impacting people's lives

Mónica Itzel Gárate Carrillo

CETYS Universidad

Community partnership concept

A community-university partnership is a relationship, not an affair

Long-term, mutual benefits of civic engagement emerge slowly, which can be at odds with university timelines. A ‘new’ 10-year project shows how trust and commitment need persistence to pay off

Mhairi McVicar, Ali Abdi, Corey Smith

Cardiff University

The Venice skyline at dusk

Seeing is believing: how to make internationalisation count

Simply being international is no longer enough in higher education. Internationalisation needs to demonstrate impact and return on investment – and to do that, it needs to be seen, writes Michael Scott

Michael Scott

The University of Warwick

ophthalmologist examining a child's eye

A clear vision for university-community partnerships

Mutual respect, actively listening to each other’s perspectives and clear mechanisms to evidence impact should be the foundation of a university-community collaboration. Here’s how a project to improve local children’s eye health grew into an ongoing partnership

Leon Davies, Rachel Shaw, Guy Rippon

Aston University, Aston Villa Football Club

Someone reads the news on their phone

Critical thinking v fake news: a case study

In this age of disinformation, how can universities embed critical thinking skills in their local communities? A face-to-face workshop could be the answer

Laura Bradnam

Birkbeck, University of London

Demonstrating research excellence Campus spotlight guide image

From the lab to life: how to demonstrate research excellence

Advice on innovative and traditional methods of communicating your research and impact to different audiences

Campus contributors

Campus

Businesswomen in conversation

Conversations that drive grassroots innovation in higher education

When university resources are limited, innovation doesn’t always begin with boardroom decisions or major funding. Sometimes it starts with one conversation and a willingness to act on it. Here’s how university staff can drive change through grassroots leadership initiatives

Penny Triantafillou

The University of Warwick

Students having a debate in class

From clashing egos to compassionate debate in the classroom

By reframing debates as opportunities to build resilience, empathy and self-confidence, educators can help students strengthen relationships and develop lifelong skills for well-being and personal development

Elisa González

CETYS Universidad

A scientist drops liquid into a beaker

An early career researcher’s guide to impact

Research impact can often be reduced to an administrative task, yet looking past metrics and seeing your work come to life can be incredibly rewarding. Here’s how to connect with the ‘why’ of your research

Andy Phippen, Louise Rutt

Bournemouth University, University of Plymouth

Donut with a bite out of it

How to create snackable social media content

What makes an engaging post that delivers your key message? Here’s what university social media creators should do and what they should avoid when creating short-form content

Evan Atkinson

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

Critical thinking spotlight graphic

Critical thinking in teaching and research

Practical strategies and advice for university educators and researchers to develop and teach the skills to analyse, evaluate, understand and communicate knowledge in an information-saturated world

Eliza Compton, Campus contributors

Campus

A group of students planting trees

The keys to strong university–non-profit partnerships

Collaborative projects between universities and non-profits nurture empathy and allow students to make a real-world impact. Here, three educators share their tips for building meaningful partnerships that benefit students and communities alike

Mariana Leyva , Martha Sáenz , Itzel Eguiluz

Tecnológico de Monterrey

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Campus talks: using social media not as a tool but as a teacher in higher education

What can university educators learn about teaching and audience engagement from social media? Two experts – a psychologist and a professor of public relations – share strategies for connecting with students, finding wider audiences for niche research, and fighting misinformation

Peter Lovatt, Cayce Myers

Doctor Dance, Virginia Tech

Microphones sit on a table

Why academics should adopt a podcaster’s mindset

Launching a podcast helped Mark Carroll gain new perspective on communicating research to the public. Here are four lessons he learned

Mark Carroll

University of the West of Scotland

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Campus talks: university libraries – and librarians – that are leading the change

Learn about the efforts of US librarians to protect valuable public data from sudden erasure by the Trump administration and a pioneering project which saw a UK university partner with a local council to create a joint library that is open to anyone

David Green, Lynda Kellam

University of Worcester, University of Pennsylvania

Social media bite-size content

Stepping stones to milestones: tap into micro-moments for alumni engagement

To connect effectively with alumni, bite-sized social media content must mirror the complexity of the lives it touches, writes Florence Neo

Florence Neo

Singapore Management University

A team discusses at Post-It notes on a wall

Communication skills needed for public policy and how to teach them

Effective public policy requires clear communication and public engagement. Here’s how to equip future policymakers with the necessary skills

Lisa Lim

Nazarbayev University

A small girl points to a test tube

How to bring university science into primary schools

Engaging primary-school-age children with STEM will help them to think critically and develop informed opinions for the rest of their lives. Here’s how to do it

Farah Jaber-Hijazi

University of the West of Scotland

Image of a globe surrounded by the 17 SDG symbols

The need for integrated thinking at universities: from Covid-19 to the SDGs

A joined-up approach between universities, public services and businesses – as successfully demonstrated during the pandemic – is now needed if institutions are to accelerate efforts towards the Sustainable Development Goals

Abeer Hassan

University of the West of Scotland

Corporate representatives shaking hands

Engagement isn’t a trade-off – it’s a path to stronger research

REF 2021 placed more emphasis on impact and engagement, meaning we must no longer rely on our research to speak for itself. Read how to engage with those beyond academia to ensure your work has a greater impact on society

Florian Bauer , Raffaello Rossi

The University of Bristol

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Campus talks: the secrets of effective policy engagement – from two academics who have worked in government

Two academics who are steeped in policy expertise, having worked in government in the UK and US, share practical insights on what works when trying to get research before the eyes of decision-makers

David R. Garcia, Michael Sanders

Arizona State University, King’s College London

sustainability concept

How to succeed as a green leader

Small projects, broad buy-in, leadership-level commitment and consistent attention to energy, waste and water all add up to a more sustainable campus. Here’s how a UK university turned its climate awareness around

Andrew Church, Toby Maloy

University of Bedfordshire

A handshake

How to choose the right industry partners

Developing long-term, successful industry partnerships starts by choosing the right one. Here’s how to do it

Andy Colley

Birkbeck, University of London

A group of research aprticipants waiting to be interviewed

Why relationship building is key to policy influence

To influence policy, researchers must go beyond data to build trust and relationships. Strategic networking makes the difference

O. Grace Ngullie

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

An illustration of a heart passing from one hand to another

Four ways to balance service and learning

Community-engaged pedagogies such as service learning are widely practised in universities, but how to achieve a lasting impact on both students and communities? Here are four strategies to do so

Grace Ngai, Rina Camus

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Smiling woman talking to healthcare professional

Key challenges for patient and public involvement leads

The research team member who leads on PPI must act in the interests of healthcare patients and the public as well as support the needs of the research project. Here is advice for how to succeed in this emerging role

Gary Hickey

University of Southampton

Group of schoolchildren

Bridging the gap between academia and local communities

Institutions that integrate public engagement into their core mission will contribute to stronger, more connected communities. Here are lessons from running an on-campus science bazaar

Ellie-May Beaman

Oxford Brookes University

forest with heart-shaped gap to sky

How we partner with landowners to sequester carbon emissions

Universities are turning to external partnerships in a bid to adopt more sustainable practices. Here are tips on how to identify and build relationships and overcome the challenges these collaborations can present

David Bruce

The University of Edinburgh

Ineffective communication concept

The perils of unheard policy

Effective communication is a core component of successful policymaking. Whether you’re a policy professional or working in communications, how you convey your message can determine whether your ideas thrive or fade

Alistair Sackley

University of Southampton

Male mature-age college student

What makes a university extension programme stand out?

A holistic approach to extension courses that includes easy access to information, personalised support, workforce development assistance and end-to-end engagement will help institutions shine in a crowded market

Jaimie Rush

University of La Verne

Two researchers in white coats high five

The university support services that help demonstrate research impact

Library and knowledge transfer services are just two of the institutional resources available to help academics show the impact of their research. Find out which tools to use and when

Tugce Ataci

Université Paris-Est Créteil

A young student laughs and writes on a whiteboard

How a mathematics competition can develop future university students

A national initiative to find the best young mathematicians demonstrated how the subject can bridge the gap between school and university. Find out how to use it to develop students’ soft skills

Rabie Zine

Al Akhawayn University

Young people making a movie with phone

Active, flipped, micro, virtual learning: a toolbox for interdisciplinary teaching

Young engineers need interdisciplinary skills more than ever to communicate science clearly, both to inform the public and to protect shared resources such as the environment. Here are lessons from a cross-course project

Martin Morgeneyer, Esteban Zúñiga Domínguez

Université de Technologie de Compiègne

A focus group

How to build a citizen science research culture

Practical advice for building inclusive and innovative research cultures that prepare students for real-world challenges

Aadhi Agilan, Sam O’Keefe, Gareth Bilton

University of Chester

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Campus webinar: How to boost the public perception of higher education

Hear how universities can demonstrate the value of their research, teaching and social impact beyond academia, from senior leaders at Campus+ partner institutions in the US and Canada

Steven W. McLaughlin, Nader Jalili , Rahim Somani

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities, SMU Lyle School of Engineering, University of Northern British Columbia

A team work on a research project round a table

The power of participatory podcasts as a research method

Instead of seeing podcasting as an alternative output, producing a series with a group of youth curators helped Abigail Harrison Moore and Lauren Theweneti understand how significant it can be for participatory research

Abigail Harrison Moore, Lauren Theweneti

University of Leeds, Sheffield Hallam University

A woman gives a talk to a room of colleagues

A practical guide to better public speaking: part two

The second in a two-part series, here’s how to hone your public speaking skills, using the three Cs

Anna Christodoulou

University of Westminster

A woman on her phone posting to social media

An academic’s guide to Bluesky

With many HE professionals making the switch to Bluesky, here are the steps you need to take to get started

Wahiba Chair

University Canada West

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