Our civic role for 嗨碰视频
The 嗨碰视频 goes above and beyond the provision of higher education to create lasting and meaningful impact on the city it calls home.
The 嗨碰视频 was established by Royal Charter in 1836 for the public benefit and is recognised globally. Throughout our long history, the University has offered access to a wide range of academic opportunities. As a world leader in higher education, the University has pioneered change in the sector.
For almost 200 years, we have improved the lives of millions of people around the world through our unique approach to education.
Supporting 嗨碰视频 in new ways
The 嗨碰视频 is very proud of its role as an anchor institution within the capital, supporting and working with the local community and partners for the benefit of all those who live, work and study in 嗨碰视频.
Through a range of projects and initiatives the University seeks to deepen its contributions to the city and cement its position as a civic institution 鈥榝or the public benefit鈥.
Projects and initiatives
One way in which UoL is building new connections in the city of 嗨碰视频 and nurturing old ones is through the 嗨碰视频 Research and Policy Partnership (LRaPP), which it leads alongside the Greater 嗨碰视频 Authority and 嗨碰视频 Councils.
LRaPP aims to create networks between local government and the academic research community to address major public policy issues. Its board is chaired by our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Thomson, while Professor of Practice Ben Rogers represents the University as part of LRaPP鈥檚 executive group.
Since it was established, the project has focused on two main areas;
- green businesses, jobs and skills 鈥 all of which contribute to a net zero agenda.
- examining policies that would improve housing, by working with local communities to reduce the carbon footprint of 嗨碰视频's homes.
Local Policy Innovation Partnership bid
In January, the LRaPP submitted a bid for a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP), a cross-sector programme that aims to support policymakers in tackling levelling-up challenges, driving growth and reducing the disparity between regions in the UK.
A successful bid would enable LRaPP to access significant funding as well as joining the LPIP Hub, a national consortium of research and policy stakeholders led by the University of Birmingham. The
LRaPP was shortlisted for the bid in June and is currently preparing to submit a stage 2 proposal by mid-September. The LPIP bid focused on supporting 嗨碰视频 reaching net zero by 2030, particularly through the retrofitting of homes.
Looking forward, the partnership is focusing on the stage 2 proposal and is organising a series of workshops with researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, activists and local communities to expand its networks and discuss retrofit challenges.
The 嗨碰视频 is also a part of the (LAIN), which launched in March 2021. The network tackles long standing inequalities within 嗨碰视频 by bringing together the Mayor of 嗨碰视频 Sadiq Khan, 嗨碰视频 Councils and leading organisations across business, the public sector and community groups. Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Thomson, is co-chair of the network鈥檚 steering committee.
A number of working groups have been formed to focus on a number of critical issues in the city such as the gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps, mentorship for young people and using procurement to support local economies.
Alongside the University, other LAIN network members include the Association of Colleges, The 嗨碰视频 Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Muslim Council of Britain, and the Metropolitan Police Service.
A significant way the University is addressing LAIN鈥檚 objectives is by purchasing goods and services from micro, small and medium-sized businesses in 嗨碰视频.
As part of its normal operations, the University has contributed millions of pounds to 嗨碰视频-based suppliers. This was especially important during the pandemic, where the University directed 拢48m towards suppliers in the city between 2020 and 2022.
LAIN as a whole has committed to spend more than 拢1.3bn on contracts with small businesses in 嗨碰视频 by 2027.
The 嗨碰视频 Scholars Programme is an excellent example of the University鈥檚 dedication to creating a real social and economic impact in the city as well as widening access to higher education.
In autumn last year the university launched the 拢2m scholarship to address the attainment gap between students.
More than 70 students are already benefiting from the scheme and, over the next three years, up to 100 嗨碰视频-based students from across the federation will receive support through the programme.
LAIN has also supported activity at the University through its 嗨碰视频 Progression Collaborative, which is providing guidance on how to make better use of the apprenticeship levy. The levy, which the University already pays as a large employer, supports the funding of apprenticeship training for other employers.
The University has announced the ongoing development of an apprenticeship programme for 嗨碰视频-based roles. So far, fifteen apprenticeship positions have been approved across the HR and ITDS departments.
Leveraging the Levy: supporting apprenticeships across the 嗨碰视频
As an anchor institution we are committed to supporting 嗨碰视频鈥檚 communities by creating meaningful apprenticeship opportunities.
To support this commitment the University commissioned , formerly the 嗨碰视频 Progression Collaboration, to explore how the university and its 17 federation members can do more to support apprenticeships and make the most of the considerable apprenticeship levy contribution each institution makes.
Key findings of the report
The report estimates that over 拢10 million is contributed annually in apprenticeship levies across the 嗨碰视频 federation, but at least 75% of this funding expires unused each year.
As the report states, this is a significant missed opportunity. Apprenticeships offer benefits to both institutions and individuals, by creating learn as you work opportunities and helping universities recruit to recruit to hard-to-fill posts, boost retention and develop a more inclusive and representative workforce. To maximise these opportunities and support universities鈥 wider strategic objectives, the report makes six key recommendations:
- Ensure strong senior sponsorship of apprenticeships, both at a federation level and within institutions
- Build-up HR staff capacity and expertise to expand and support high-quality apprenticeships
- Maximise opportunities for structured collaborative working and best-practice sharing across the 嗨碰视频
- Undertake cross-organisational communications activity to build the reputation of and appetite for apprenticeships across federal members
- Work across federation members to promote, recruit and support apprenticeships
- Maximise the transfer of unspent levy funds to small and medium sized businesses, enabling them to take on apprentices.
It is hoped that the report can provide valuable insights and recommendations to other institutions looking to expand their apprenticeship schemes. We are grateful to all contributors and look forward to helping drive progress across 嗨碰视频.
In addition to our scholarship programme, students also benefit through our Careers Service, which provides a wealth of careers and employability support to students as well as recent graduates and research staff.
The service recently launched a new short course on the online learning platform Moodle, which aims to help students under the age of 18 explore their post-school options.
Online courses like '?' have become an important resource for young people in 嗨碰视频 and elsewhere. It also supports our Social Mobility Pledge, which is 鈥渢o collaborate with schools or colleges to provide coaching through quality careers advice, enrichment experience, and/or mentoring to people from disadvantaged backgrounds or circumstances鈥.
The University is continually updating its estates and property for the benefit of its students, staff and the wider Bloomsbury area.
Last year the lower ground floor of Senate House underwent a significant transformation to enable the creation of BLOOM@Senate House, a multi-use space for students from across the 嗨碰视频 federation, as well as visitors to Senate House and Senate House Library.
The space provides substantially more study and social areas with the convenience of being right next to Deller Hall Caf茅.
Anybody who has recently entered Senate House from Malet Street is sure to have seen the Senate House Steps, which reimagine the former carpark as a colourful and inviting space for students, staff, and the local community.
The University has also taken part in the Queen's Green Canopy project, which celebrates the Platinum Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II by encouraging tree-planting. Members of staff planted 18 dwarf plum trees across the estate, one for each Federation Member.
You can see these trees throughout the Bloomsbury area in Woburn Square, Gordon Square and Torrington Square. This is in addition to new flower beds that have been planted across the estate.
The University has been involved in several initiatives to improve our environmental impact, particularly in our green public spaces, such as a hedgehog house in Gordon Square and a bug hotel in Woburn Square. This work helped the University secure an award from the .
The hosts a number of publicly accessible Summer Schools programmes based in 嗨碰视频. The courses include the , which offers participants insight into 嗨碰视频鈥檚 stories and historic places.
The theme for this year鈥檚 Summer School was 鈥楽ecret 嗨碰视频鈥 and explored topics such as the secret histories of Medieval 嗨碰视频 and MI5, as well as Senate House鈥檚 history as the former home to the World War II-era Ministry of Information.
Next year鈥檚 theme will be 鈥楻ivers鈥, a particularly relevant topic to current public discourse on the UK鈥檚 waterways.
The summer schools are open to the public and some allow those students to earn credits towards a full degree.