Civic Charter launched to mark commitment to our region
By: Communications
UEA’s Civic Charter, which outlines how the university will work with and support communities to find solutions to the very many complex challenges that society faces, has been officially launched.
Celebrating UEA’s 60th anniversary, the Civic Charter draws on a long tradition of civic work. From the Law Clinic which provides free advice to the public, to the international art on display at the Sainsbury Centre, and the researchers transforming the quality of life in local communities, or striving for solutions to the climate crisis – UEA has always delivered impact locally, regionally and globally.
The new Civic Charter invites businesses, organisations and individuals from all sectors to engage with UEA and create opportunities for new projects and collaborations. It was launched at UEA Court (the University’s annual general meeting) on Wednesday 4 October.
Dr Johanna Forster, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Civic, said: “Universities have always been civic institutions and we have been working in this space for decades.
“Three years ago, we started working on how best to deliver our answer to a Civic University Agreement, and established our Civic university programme and we’re delighted to launch the new Charter as UEA celebrates its 60th anniversary. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with our origins.
“UEA was founded by the region, for the region, to be of the region and this will be key to delivering social value in the future.
“We want to use the Charter to create a groundswell of civic activity across the University, represented in many different sorts of partnerships and ways of working.”
The Charter was created with input from a series of public discussions and events held across Norfolk and Suffolk, focusing on what a ‘civic university’ should look like, how it should behave, what it should prioritise, and how it should create impact, here and globally.
Attendees at Court, held at the University’s Enterprise Centre, included representatives from across Norfolk and Suffolk, as the first ten organisations to have formally signed UEA’s Civic Charter : Norfolk County Council, Norwich City Council, Norwich Research Park, CEFAS, Adnams, BT, Norwich City Football Club, Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich Cathedral and Norfolk Community Foundation.
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