The Role of Universities in Regional Placemaking

Henham was pleased to work with the UPP Foundation to deliver a series of senior roundtable discussions in four regions across England, exploring the role of universities in regional placemaking and local economies.

The final report explores the key themes that emerged from the conversations, including challenges facing universities and their civic agendas, and how partnership could ease pressures and create new opportunities for the civic university movement. Across the four regions, there was broad agreement that the renewed attention from the Government on the civic role of universities offered an opportunity to reflect and re-energise the civic university movement. Meaningful community engagement and practical collaboration were seen as key, even if institutional hesitancy and financial constraints remain obstacles.

Views diverged across the regions on the opportunities afforded by devolution, with some regions seeing emerging benefits whilst uneven progress meant others feared being left behind. There was also debate over how universities are perceived by their communities - whether they must do more, or simply better articulate the civic value they already deliver. There was an overarching sense that UK higher education is at a crossroads as the sector grapples with competing challenges. Connecting their contributions to their local places and economies offers universities a chance to root their institutions more firmly in their local areas, offering a path through wider political and economic instability.