1. What is Public Engagement?
We've talked to many different people across the HE sector and research community to synthesise their views of what public engagement is. We think it's important to be inclusive and not to try to narrow the definition down too far. We also believe that the other types of engagement - for instance 'civic' or 'community' engagement - are part of the same family. What they all have in common is describing an aspiration to better connect the work of universities and research institutes with society.
NCCPE Draft Definition
Public engagement describes the myriad ways in which the activity and benefits of higher education can be shared with the public. Engagement is by definition a two way process involving interaction and listening, with the goal of generating mutual benefit.
Viewpoints
Click on the video to find out how Dave Wolff, Director of CUPP at the University of Brighton, and John Annette, Pro Vice Master for Lifelong Learning and Engagement at Birkbeck define public engagement. Or visit our viewpoints page for a range of other views about what public engagement is and why it matters.
Please use the comment box to share your own thoughts or contact Sophie Duncan to contribute your own ideas.
Click here for a transcript of this video.
Find out more
We've pulled together a list of other definitions of public engagement in the HEI sector. Please take a look and let us know of any we've missed that you think are particularly useful. Click here to download definitions of public engagement (PDF, 395KB).
Funded by the UK Higher Education Funding Councils, Research Councils UK and the Wellcome Trust. About our funders
1 comments
The definitions that work for me are the Wikepedia and Carnegie Foundation ones. They're both succinct, and if combined would explain the specialist/non-specialist aspect as well as the importance of the communication with the community. Maybe also 'skills' is a word that could be added to the bit, '...beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources...'?
Louise Emerson, 05 October 2009 at 9:15pm
Post new comment