MMU chosen as 'Beacon' for public engagement

People from Manchester and Salford will be given the chance to become more actively involved in the important work of local universities, thanks to a new £9.2 million national initiative called Beacons for Public Engagement.

A total of six beacons are to be set up in Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, London, Cardiff and Edinburgh. The Manchester and Salford centre includes MMU, Manchester: Knowledge Capital, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Universities of Manchester and Salford.

Funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Research Councils UK and the Wellcome Trust, the scheme aims to improve the way in which Universities listen to, and respond to, the needs of the public.

Manchester/Salford has won £1.2 million to encourage more academics and researchers to work with local businesses, sports clubs, cultural venues and community groups to spread knowledge and improve quality of life, particularly those from excluded neighbourhoods and backgrounds.

City mission

Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Maureen Neal said: "What makes this initiative so exciting for MMU is that this contract is both recognition for the excellent public engagement work that we already do and a big opportunity for us to play our part in shaping this important agenda on behalf of the rest of the Higher Education sector.

"The public engagement mission is even more important in a city like Manchester where, despite the economic boom, our inner cities are challenged with areas of major social and economic deprivation and poor educational achievement.

"The Manchester Beacon will bridge the interests of Universities and local people and build trust that will allow our University to become part of, and not separate from our local community. I am delighted that we have been successful in this bid and look forward to all the innovative work that is going to come out of this project."

Speaking on behalf of Research Councils UK Professor Alan Thorpe said: "Much of the work carried out by higher education institutions has a direct effect on people's lives, so it is important they are able to access it and have their say."

Listening

Professor David Eastwood, Chief Executive of HEFCE said: "Listening to and involving the public is of fundamental importance to the work of higher education and society. By working in partnership with the research councils and other major funders we are providing a more co-ordinated approach enabling universities to build on the rich diversity of activities already being undertaken."

For more information contact Sarah O'Donnell or the Corporate Development Team in the Research Enterprise and Development (RED) Office on 0161 247 3386.