What is Public Engagement?
As public engagement is a developing field, there are several different definitions.
The Public Engagement Unit supports UCL staff and students involved in activities like:
- Telling public groups about our work (PDF)
- Supporting communities with our expertise (PDF)
- Nurturing a society in which the next generation want to take part in research, teaching and learning (PDF)
- Creating opportunities for people outside the University to contribute their research and knowledge to our programmes (PDF)
- Taking part in dialogue about the direction of our research and teaching (PDF)
- Creating knowledge in collaboration with communities and interest groups outside the University (PDF)
We also use the definition of public engagement developed by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement.
''Public engagement describes the many ways in which higher education institutions and their staff and students can connect and share their work with the public. Done well, it generates mutual benefit, with all parties learning from each other through sharing knowledge, expertise and skills. In the process, it can build trust, understanding and collaboration, and increase the sector's relevance to, and impact on, civil society.''
And a definition of 'public' developed from that provided by HEFCE:
''The 'public' includes individuals and groups who do not currently have a formal relationship with an higher education institution (HEI) through teaching, research or knowledge transfer.''
- Engaging members of the public in research and teaching: purpose, examples and practice at UCL (PDF) - This document provides practical examples of public engagement linked to research
and teaching.
Page last modified on 02 may 13 11:49
