Civic Mission in Wales: Strengthening Partnerships for Regional Impact
The NCCPE has been supporting Medr to develop civic engagement work across Wales through the Regional Civic Engagement Partnership (RCEP) Projects.
Earlier this year, colleagues from across Further and Higher Education organisations in Wales, came together for the Civic Mission in Wales event. The event served as a platform for exploring how organisations can work collaboratively to drive meaningful, place-based social change across Wales.
Throughout the day, we heard from inspiring partnerships and colleagues across England and Wales, explored policy drivers at the Welsh and national levels, and engaged in thought-provoking discussions on strengthening civic engagement.
Why has Medr supported these partnerships?
In 2024/25, Medr provided funding to support three Regional Civic Engagement Partnerships across North, Mid/West and South Wales. The partnerships are intended to support closer and more committed civic partnership working between universities and FE colleges, in line with Medr’s strategic duties to promote collaboration and coherence across the tertiary sector and to promote a civic mission.
The civic engagement partnerships are intended to support providers to pool their expertise and resources to develop a shared vision for civic mission in their respective regions and co-develop solutions to identified challenges.
Medr is also supporting the partnerships to come together on a pan-Wales basis through events like these to share their ideas and experiences of working with and for communities across Wales, and to support the sector to showcase and enhance its contribution to the well-being of Wales and its people.
Setting the Scene: Why Civic Mission Matters
The event began with a warm bilingual welcome, setting the tone for an inclusive and interactive day. Participants reflected on what civic mission means to them through an interactive exercise, with responses highlighting pride in place, the importance of collaboration, and the role of education in community development.
Learning from Practice: Partnerships in Action
One of the highlights was a case study from Lancaster University and Lancaster & Morecambe College, which provided valuable insights into how institutions can build meaningful civic partnerships. Their approach—grounded in local needs, mutual benefit, and long-term collaboration—offered a model that resonated with many attendees looking to enhance regional partnerships in Wales.
Policy Context: Leveraging National and Regional Strategies
Understanding the policy landscape is crucial for sustaining and scaling civic initiatives. We explored:
- The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act, which sets the foundation for civic engagement across post-16 education
- The Well-being of Future Generations Act, reinforcing the long-term societal impact of civic mission
- UK-wide policy context; Bridget Phillipson’s letter in Autumn 2024 advocating for the civic role of universities against a backdrop of declining public understanding of the value of universities add to society.
A key takeaway was the need to align civic mission work with strategic policy priorities to unlock funding and long-term support.
Collaborating for the Future
An Open Space discussion allowed attendees to shape the agenda, bringing forward topics that mattered most to them. Themes included student involvement in civic initiatives, approaches to civic engagement, leveraging policy and effective regional partnership working.
Next Steps
Over the course of the day, we built a strong collective sense of the potential and purpose of embracing civic ways of working – and for working in more collaborative and connected ways. The event concluded with reflections on how universities will need to change if they are to take on these new ways of working. Everyone recognised how big a challenge this is going to be. Creating sustainable, impactful partnerships that truly serve Welsh communities is a wonderful aspiration – but it will take significant sustained effort and commitment to shape the future of civic mission in Wales. This event was a crucial step in that journey.
Stay connected and keep the conversation going—sign up for updates from NCCPE and Medr, and let’s continue working together to build a stronger, more engaged Wales.
