Our engaged University

The University of Dundee is transforming lives in our city, region and around the world. These social and cultural benefits can only be realised by working with others and sharing and our research, teaching and professional practice. The pathway to realising these benefits is known as public engagement, and the University of Dundee is passionate about embedding public engagement in all that we do.

Our commitment to public engagement at the University is outlined in our Public Engagement Strategy. This strategy outlines how we support our staff and students to engage with others, and sets out our ambitious plans to build on our excellent engagement activity.

Defining Public Engagement

Public engagement describes the many ways in which the activity and benefits of higher education and research can be shared beyond the University sector. We realise that the term 'public engagement' is interpreted in many ways by different people and we take some time here to share what this means to us.

Public engagement is a two-way process that has mutual benefit for our staff & students, and our external partners and audiences. The University is committed to the highest standards of Public Engagement. We are proud to be a signatory of the Manifesto for Public Engagement.

In the UK's Higher Education sector, public engagement is supported by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE). The University of Dundee supports and adopts the National Co-ordinating Centre's inclusive definition of public engagement:

The reach and impacts of public engagement go beyond the public audiences that its name may suggest. Our Public Engagement team, and colleagues in our Schools and Directorates engage with a diverse range of partners. These include community groups, school children & teachers, politicians and policy makers, business and our cultural partners. The NCCPE website features a good summary of Who are the public?

Responsibility for public engagement goes beyond our network of dedicated public engagement professionals. All staff and students are encouraged to take part in public engagement activities at every stage of their academic and professional careers. This helps fulfil the University’s aim of being an engaged institution.

We have found that done well, public engagement is a pathway that delivers many positive impacts and benefits to all who participate.

Why we support and encourage engagement

Public engagement is essential to our vision to connect with communities and transform lives locally and globally. It is only through sharing our experiences that we can co-create a culture of curiosity, confidence, and engagement. By listening to and learning from our partners and audiences, we work with our community to achieve impact that benefits all society.

You can read more reasons to get involved in the following:

• Our School of Life Sciences - Why Engage? publication
• Wellcome's report on Factors affecting public engagement by researchers
• UKRI's publication What's in it for me? The benefits of public engagement for researchers
• Vitae's publication The Engaging Researcher (registered users only)