FOCUS FEATURE


CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY


The journey to becoming a true civic university


- and the part that business has to play


By Russ Langley (pictured), Director of Corporate Planning and Performance, University of Derby


The notion of a civic university is not new, but the drive to reconnect higher education with its local communities has been re-energised. Earlier this year, the UPP Foundation Civic University


Commission threw down the gauntlet to the sector, namely for us each to develop a Civic University Agreement, co- created with key partners and stakeholders within the communities in which we operate. Being the only university in the city of Derby and the


county of Derbyshire is a huge responsibility for us, and connecting in a meaningful way with our communities is vital. This is why Derby was among the first 30 UK universities to endorse that call and to commit to producing an agreement, which will ultimately lead to us becoming a true civic university. Under the agreement, the university will be driven by the following principles:


1. As a place-based institution, we are committed to attaching a high priority to the economic, social, environmental and cultural life of our local communities.


2. Our civic role will be informed by an evidence-based analysis of the needs of our place, developed collaboratively with local partners and informed by the needs of our local community.


3. We will collaborate with other anchor institutions and form partnerships to overcome the challenges facing local communities.


4.With our partners, we will be clear about what we do and how this is measured, so we can say with confidence what we have achieved – and how we might do better in the future.


64 business network July/August 2019


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