The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) has awarded the Engage Watermark to the following higher education institutions and faculties.
University of Birmingham (Gold Award, 2021)
"I am very proud that the University of Birmingham has achieved the Gold Engage Watermark. It is a real credit to the excellent progress the University has made on our public engagement activity since we achieved silver in 2018. At the University of Birmingham, we pride ourselves on the impact that we have on the city and the Midlands region, not only as one of Birmingham’s biggest employers but through our research and our relationships with civic partners, communities, and businesses. Opening The Exchange in Birmingham city centre is a testament to the dedication that we have to our city and its communities, and we’re delighted to have that recognised by the NCCPE today."
Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham
Cardiff University (Silver Award, 2022)
"This award is a demonstration of our strong commitment to the communities that we serve. I am grateful to all members of staff and students who have contributed to this significant achievement, making us the first Welsh university to be recognised for our work in developing and nurturing public engagement. Making higher education and academic research accessible and relevant to our diverse communities is at the heart of our strategy and ensures our expertise is having a tangible impact on those living in the Cardiff Capital Region, Wales and beyond. We look forward to building on this recognition further, so that we can continue to benefit all aspects of society."
Professor Roger Whitaker, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research Innovation and Enterprise at Cardiff University
Solent University (Silver Award, 2022)
"Receiving the Watermark is particularly important for a university like ours, that is committed to engaging with and supporting its communities. It not only recognises the broad range of public engagement activities undertaken by our staff and students, but also the success of our key community partnerships, including ABP Southampton Marathon and Southampton Football Club. The Watermark also highlights Solent University’s continued commitment to further growth in this area and - along with our network of public engagement professionals - we will continue to share best practice, learnings and opportunities to develop our approach.”
Professor Syamantak Bhattacharya, Provost, Solent University
University of Derby (Bronze Award, 2022)
"We are delighted to receive this Bronze Engage Watermark in recognition of the University’s ongoing commitment to high quality public engagement. At the heart of university life is the imperative to create new knowledge and understanding and develop valuable and effective partnership working. Our approach to this engenders formal engagement, not just with the University community but directly with the many communities that are within our region and beyond. We look forward to working with the NCCPE as we continue to build on our commitment to public engagement at Derby, one that delivers long lasting positive impact for our staff, students and the wider communities."
Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby
Queen Mary University of London (Platinum Award, 2021)
“We are honoured and absolutely delighted to be awarded the first Platinum Engage Watermark. We strongly believe that creating and sharing knowledge with the public as partners is integral to ensuring our research and teaching has benefits for society. I am extremely proud of all of our staff and students who demonstrate that commitment every day, and I would like to say a special thank you to every member of the public, every community group, who has worked with Queen Mary – we share this award with you.”
Professor Colin Bailey, President and Principal of Queen Mary University of London
Newcastle University (Gold Award, 2021)
“We are extremely proud that Newcastle University’s commitment to public engagement has been recognised with a Gold Watermark award. As a University, we exist to benefit society through our education and research. This award is a testament to the incredible work of our colleagues and students, especially against the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic, working alongside our many partners to benefit the communities we serve.”
Professor Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice Chancellor Engagement and Place, Newcastle University
University of Huddersfield (Bronze Award, 2021)
“We are absolutely delighted to receive the Bronze Watermark Award. Colleagues from across the University have worked incredibly hard to show the public outside of the institution the exciting work we do and the superb facilities that we have, so this is a wonderful recognition for them. The University was founded in 1841 with a mission to educate local working people. That commitment is stronger than ever now as we continue to offer excellent educational opportunities for all, but we also share and connect our world-leading research to create positive impacts with the people who benefit. Our public engagement journey is very much on the right path and we will continue to support our staff and students to strengthen and celebrate our culture of purposeful engagement across a broader canvas.”
Andrew Ball, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Enterprise, University of Huddersfield
Diamond Light Source (Bronze Award, 2021)
“We are really proud to have won this award. It is a wonderful recognition of the past 19 years as we have embedded engagement with the public at the heart of the facility. The award is a credit to the time and energy given by our staff and contractors from open days, school visits and the Diamond academy, which welcomes school students for work experience, to supporting our staff and users in their own local engagement activities. In fact, in non-covid times, we have the same footfall as a National Trust House, so this is a real pat on the back for everyone that has been involved. We see this as the first step and are looking forward to cementing the recommendations so that we can grow these programmes further.
Isabelle Boscaro-Clarke, Head of Communications and Engagement, Diamond Light Source
School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent (Silver Award, 2020)
“The School of Physical Sciences is delighted and very proud by the award of Silver Watermark. We have placed Public Engagement and Communications (PEC) as a third stream of our mission alongside Teaching and Scholarship and Research and Enterprise, believing that to achieve excellence we must disseminate our aims and achievements to the widest number of stakeholders. Placing PEC at the centre of our teaching and research and supporting our staff in their PEC work is core to the School. We are thrilled to achieve NCCPE recognition of our work in this area and look forward to making continued progress both in our school and across the Division of Natural Sciences and the University.”
Professor Nigel Mason, Head of the School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent
Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge (Silver Award, 2020)
"I am absolutely delighted that the Gurdon Institute has been awarded a Silver Watermark for our public engagement work. We strive to make our fundamental biological research accessible and responsive to the public for the mutual benefits of inspiration, knowledge exchange and trust. This award recognises the quality of our past activities and our exciting and ambitious plans for the future."
Professor Julie Ahringer, Director of the Gurdon Institute
University of Dundee (Gold Award, 2020)
“I am delighted to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the University of Dundee. I am extremely proud to lead an institution where our staff and student community are so passionate about engaging with the city and beyond, to effect real change, and to develop meaningful relationships with those we engage with. Our mission as a university is to transform lives locally and globally through the creation, sharing and application of knowledge. This award shows that we do not only state our aspirations but we live up to them through our actions and activity. My thanks go to everyone in our University community who has contributed to our public engagement work.”
Professor David Maguire, Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor
University of Central Lancashire (Silver Award, 2020)
“We are delighted to be awarded the Engage Watermark and for our work in this area to be recognised on a national stage. Public engagement is a vital part of our role as a civic university and we look forward to further developing two-way engagement with our local communities over the coming years.”
Professor Graham Baldwin, Vice Chancellor
York St John University (Silver Award, 2019)
“In this detailed submission, we evidence the significant progress we are making in the level of support we give to public engagement. Across the whole University, there is a strong commitment to sharing our expertise with others whilst also learning from the communities we serve. We believe that in our region we are a beacon of excellence in the support we offer to public engagement. At all levels of Leadership at the University there is a high level of institutional commitment to further improve the excellent work we are doing in public engagement.”
Professor Karen Stanton, Vice Chancellor of YSJU
Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, University of Dundee (Gold Award, 2019)
“We are absolutely delighted to receive this award, which recognises our vision to promote the importance of engagement between the entire justice community and the public in promoting an understanding of the science, and its limitations, behind the forensic evidence presented in our courts.”
Professor Niamh Nic Daeid, Director of LRCFS
“The whole team, research and non-research, staff and students have embraced public engagement and their commitment enables the Centre to involve society in the work we do and it is fantastic to see that recognised by the NCCPE.”
Dr Heather Doran, Public Engagement Manager for LRCFS
University of Birmingham (Silver Award, 2018)
"Innovation and engagement are at the heart of everything we do in Birmingham. We are committed to engaging with a wide variety of publics to improve the design and delivery of research and learning, exciting people about knowledge and discovery, and ensuring that our work makes an impact. We are enormously proud to have been awarded a Silver Engage Watermark and see it as a great opportunity to further develop our commitment and excellence in public engagement."
Professor Sir David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham
The University of Manchester (Gold Award, 2018)
"I am delighted we have been awarded a Gold Watermark for our work on public engagement, which is a key part of our social responsibility agenda. This recognises the excellent track record we have for delivering and supporting public engagement and our ambitious plans to embed this work further."
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester
University of Strathclyde (Silver Award, 2018)
"Engagement is not froth here, or cosmetic – it is engrained. It is part of the 'Strathclyde way'."
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Strathclyde
Wellcome Genome Campus (Silver Award, 2018)
"Genomics is rapidly becoming part of people’s everyday lives, and it’s our goal to enable everyone to explore this deeply personal science. We’ve been working hard to embed a culture of public engagement across the full range of staff and students on the Wellcome Genome Campus. Achieving this Silver Watermark is a fitting testament to the efforts of everyone and our future plans for public engagement across the campus."
Dr Julian Rayner, Director, Wellcome Genome Campus Connecting Science
University of Dundee, School of Life Sciences (Gold Faculty Award, 2017)
"This award demonstrates the fantastic work and commitment to public engagement by the School of Life Sciences that has been built up over several years. Their achievement and approach to public engagement including partnership working with others across the University, the City of Dundee and beyond reflects our core University values of working together as a community, making a difference and pursuing excellence."
Professor Sir Pete Downes, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Dundee
Queen Mary University of London (Gold Award, 2016)
"We’re delighted and extremely proud to receive the Engage Watermark. At QMUL we acknowledge public engagement as an integral part of research and teaching, and believe in creating and sharing knowledge with a broad range of public and community partners. To have this view recognised by being the first institution to be awarded an NCCPE Watermark at gold level is a fantastic achievement."
Professor Simon Gaskell, President and Principal of QMUL