A new partnership has been awarded £3.7 million to help universities develop their civic leadership, maximising their local social and economic impact.
The University of Birmingham’s West Midlands Regional Economic Development Institute (WMREDI) is proud to announce that we will be part of the National Civic Impact Accelerator (NCIA), led by Sheffield Hallam University.
The project has been awarded £3.7 million by Research England to help to support universities across the country to develop their civic leadership, maximising their local social and economic impact and helping to address national and global challenges.
Other partners in the project include the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE), the Institute for Community Studies, Queen Mary University of London, and the OECD. The programme is also backed by the wider resources and partners of the Civic University Network.
Dr Rebecca Riley, Associate Professor Enterprise of Engagement, and Impact, City-REDI / WMREDI, University of Birmingham said:
“It is an exciting opportunity for us to focus in on the impact universities can have on place. It will allow us to build on the work we have carried out in the West Midlands and help other universities learn from each other about what works in growing sustainable places.”
Professor Richard Black, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Social Sciences at the University of Birmingham said:
“The University welcomes the opportunity to build on its civic foundations as a partner in the National Civic Impact Accelerator. It’s a great opportunity to share across the wider university sector, the partnership research experience and expertise developed through WMREDI and CityREDI in the West Midlands. We look forward to utilising the innovative approaches developed to enhance our own civic agreement as a local anchor institution.”
The NCIA programme will enable WMREDI to deepen and broaden our understanding of the economic impact of universities, gathering and developing evidence, evaluations, and case studies on impact across the UK.
Find out more about the NCIA, or contact Rebecca Riley.
Professor Enterprise, Engagement, and Impact
Rebecca Riley is a Professor of Enterprise of Engagement, and Impact in City-REDI, within Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, UK.
