University leaders and councillors pledged last week to generate prosperity and tackle social challenges in South Hampshire.
The joint commitment has established a Civic University Agreement which intends to improve the quality of life for people in the city and surrounding areas by connecting communities through culture, education and enterprise.
Our University will lead the initiative, alongside Southampton and Winchester City Councils, Eastleigh and Test Valley Borough Councils and Hampshire County Council.
Pledges have been made for collective action on six priority areas which include creating more opportunities for education and new skills, reducing inequality, generating jobs and economic growth, sustainability, and investing in arts and culture.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said: “We support a huge range of activities in Southampton and Winchester as well as the wider region, from our substantial contribution to the arts and culture in the region, to outreach by our academics and support for local groups. Our research, education, alumnus and outlook are global, but we are rooted in our community.”
Hear more from the Vice-Chancellor in this short interview.
The Civic University Agreement is a key recommendation in a report published by the Civic University Commission. The review underlines how UK universities have the capability, opportunity and responsibility to support their communities to solve the most pressing and major issues.
The University’s civic and community-engagement work has focused on the following key areas:
- The Arts at the University of Southampton, supporting the creative and cultural life of communities through the Southampton 2025 UK City of Culture Bid, Southampton Cultural Education Partnership and Connecting Culture research programme for children and young people
- Responding to the challenges of Covid-19, in both public health and economic recovery: from creating innovative support technology, to local trialling of Covid-19 saliva testing with communities/schools and supporting the development of potential vaccines, as part of the global effort
- Developing new ways of responding to environment and sustainability issues aligned to the Southampton Green City Charter, in order to meet net zero carbon initiatives.
Leader of Southampton City Council Councillor Satvir Kaur said: “We look forward to building on our existing close working relationship with the University of Southampton to create a city of opportunity. They share our vision to be a city to be proud of, where people want to live, work, study, visit and enjoy. Southampton has huge potential economically and socially, and I look forward to unlocking that potential, becoming future-ready and delivering for our local communities.”
