Sustainability

Public engagement

A diverse programme of public engagement activities in 2014/15 demonstrated the University’s commitment to making a positive intellectual, educational, and cultural contribution to society.

The University aims to enhance its public engagement work to influence policy-makers and influence positive change.

A key priority in 2014/15 was the University’s contribution to inform and support the public debate about the historic Scottish Independence Referendum. Staff and students engaged in a variety of ways including online, in print, at festivals, in media, through the University’s Centre on Constitutional change and through a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) about the key priorities as they emerged.

Efforts to develop strategic partnerships with local organisations continued, with the aim to strengthen links with the city, is a key aim of the University’s Strategic Plan 2012-16.

The University signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Edinburgh Zoo and the National Galleries of Scotland, to enable future collaborations for public engagement projects. The University continues to be a key partner in delivering the Edinburgh Festivals with 1.3 million of the 2.3 million tickets sold being for shows hosted in University buildings.

The Student Experience Project supported a number of initiatives in the last year to enable student engagement with local communities. Opportunities for students were offered as part of Innovative Learning Week, with an emphasis on engaging with local schools and with the community through the curriculum.

 

Further information