"UEA is a university that values its role as an anchor institution in the city of Norwich and our wider region. Public engagement is central to that civic mission and signing up to the NCCPE Manifesto helps us not only mark the excellent public engagement practised by our staff, students and community partners, but also demonstrates our full commitment as an institution to enhancing people's lives and benefiting communities.

Our UEA 2030 Vision and Plan sets out our desire to be a regional leader and a positive agent for change in the communities we serve. As a world-class university, our commitment to that mission is underpinned by the need to continue enriching and developing our public engagement activities locally, nationally and internationally.” 

Prof David Richardson, Vice-Chancellor, University of East Anglia 

Social, Cultural and Community Engagement at UEA 

UEA offers many public - and often free - events, both on- and off-campus , alongside public access to the Sainsbury Centre, Sportspark and open spaces on campus. 

From live music in the iconic Nick Rayns LCR (Lower Common Room) and translation workshops, to 'Philosophers at the Cinema' and partnership with the Norwich Science Festival, UEA encourages and invites meaningful dialogue with a public audience.

Public events include drama, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, talks, meet-ups, lectures and screenings - from the Dementia Open Forum and participation in Noirwich, to poetry readings, history talks and public speaking at Latitude Festival

See our current event listings

Facts and figures

In 2020-21, UEA offered 328 free events and 46 chargeable events to over one million attendees.

UEA ranked first for chargeable events amongst higher education institutions in the UK during this timeframe.

These figures are taken from UEA’s annual return to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

UEA Engagement Awards 

UEA has an annual awards process for academic and staff across the Norwich Research Park.