Civic University

Are you staying in Portsmouth during Christmas vacation? If so, join our International Student Ambassadors for snacks, games and much more.

Book here

Come join us for an engaging and thought-provoking event where we celebrate our differences and uniqueness. This in person event will take place at St Michael's Building 1.01. Let's come together to share our stories, experiences, and perspectives on diversity. It's a fantastic opportunity to learn from one another and foster a sense of inclusivity. Don't miss out on this enriching event! Book here

Healthy relationships are the bedrock for restorative leadership and team building for maximum impact and minimal stress. However in our western society we have created a culture that is more focused on individualism, "you can be whatever you want to be" at the expense of collaboration and team work.

If we then add into the mix the fact that most people haven't learned how to handle conflict or disagreements it has a significant impact on productivity, creativity and wellbeing.

With a few exceptions most leadership models and team work are based on a post Industrial Revolution that stifles creativity, but by adapting restorative principles and practices there is a simple but radically different way of working.

Join John Swindell, an experienced trainer and coach in restorative practice for an entertaining, enlightening session about leadership and team working practices that embed restorative principles.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact civicuniversity@port.ac.uk

This seminar is hosted by the Relational and Restorative Practice Community of Inquiry Group.

Accessibility and special requirements: We will endeavour to provide particular access requirements on request. If you have any access requirements, e.g. wheelchair access, hearing loops or specific neurodiverse requirements, please get in touch by Tuesday 17th December.

Parking: Parking in Portsmouth is extremely limited, we encourage you to use the train, bus, cycle routes, or the city’s Park ‘n’ Ride facility.

Book here

Join us for an inspiring morning of networking and a thought-provoking talk on the refreshed Civic Strategy and the University’s ongoing commitment to building meaningful community relationships.

We are delighted to welcome Professor Stephen Corbett, Civic Lead and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMS), as our speaker for this session. Steve will be exploring the refreshed Civic Strategy, focusing on why civic engagement matters to the University and how we are working to strengthen relationships with our local community.

This event provides an opportunity to:

• Hear about the University’s evolving approach to civic engagement and our aspirations for the future.
• Connect with partners, community members, and university colleagues to explore potential collaborations.
• Gain insights into the “why” behind our civic mission and how we aim to support and grow community partnerships.

Why Attend?

• Learn about the refreshed Civic Strategy: Understand how the University is adapting its approach to meet the needs of the community.
• Explore collaboration opportunities: Discover how you can contribute to building stronger community relationships.
• Network in a welcoming space: Connect with local partners, university colleagues, and community members.
• Enjoy coffee and tea: A relaxed environment for informal conversations and idea sharing.

Event Highlights

• Talk by Professor Stephen Corbett on the refreshed Civic Strategy and the importance of community engagement.
• Networking opportunities with community partners and university staff.
• Interactive discussion or Q&A to explore new ideas and connections.

We look forward to seeing you there! Please share this invitation with colleagues or community members who may be interested in attending. Book here

Harriet Curzon-Hope is a lecturer at the University of Portsmouth's School of Health and Care Professions. Harriet will share her experience of a recent project that invited members of the Portsmouth community to have a conversation with academics about the training of health and care professionals, using the Restorative Practice continuum. The approach sought to build relationships that enabled the community members to influence the University's approach to the education of Health and Social Care Professionals.

This workshop will introduce the concept of community conversations and support attendees to explore how to establish their own spaces to listen to community members in a way that shapes action.

More information coming soon. 

Elle is a Clinical Associate Psychologist for Solent NHS Trust. Her research on self-compassion highlights how this misunderstood skill is crucial for health, performance, and relationships. Interventions that raise levels of self-compassion demonstrate improvements in many areas of life, including workplaces, and even elite athlete and footballer performance. Berating ourselves is a natural response to mistakes, but such a response can cause you to miss learning opportunities. The more self-compassionate you are, the faster you recover from failure and take the learning forward. Elle's talk will give an overview of evidence for the intervention, her current research in the application of Mindful Self-Compassion for NHS staff burnout, and an opportunity to try an experiential MSC practice.

Global Week is our annual celebration of global culture and international diversity at the University of Portsmouth and within our beautiful city. Stay tuned for more details to come!

Save the date – Global Week 2025

Global Week is our annual celebration of culture and diversity at the University and within the city.

This year, Global Week will run from 15 to 23 March 2025; an exciting week-long celebration of cultures with in-person and virtual events.

The full programme will be finalised in the new year.

Don’t miss the Festival of Cultures!

This popular and colourful exhibition style event returns on Thursday 20 March 2025 in Ravelin Sports Centre, bringing together staff and students to celebrate all the nationalities that make up our university community. An evening of performances will follow and will include dances, singing and fashion shows.

Want to take part?

We’re looking for volunteers to take part and showcase your culture and/or perform at this event. Please email globalweek@port.ac.uk. Spread the word and get involved!

Dr Lisa Sugiura and Professor Peter Lee from the University of Portsmouth will focus on staff safety and wellbeing in the presence of trauma. Lisa and Pete have both experienced trauma in the course of their work and endeavour to prepare others for the unpredictable and complex responses that
individuals may experience in either work or everyday life. Lisa’s research on online gender-based violence has involved her immersion in deeply misogynistic and discriminatory web spaces, interacting with extremist groups, and supporting victim-survivors of domestic abuse and sexual
violence. Pete has been a military chaplain during war time, undertaken field work with RAF military drone crews as they conducted surveillance and lethal strikes, and surveyed the mental health and wellbeing of police child sex crime investigators. Their aim for this session is to raise awareness of vicarious trauma (whether disclosed or undisclosed) and its impact on staff wellbeing, through the sharing of personal experiences.

On Thursday, 5th December, from 9.15 AM to 11.30 AM, the first session on "Supporting the Emotional Wellbeing of Practitioners" took place at the Oasis Centre, Arundel Street, Portsmouth. This engaging session aimed to support the emotional and social wellbeing of healthcare practitioners and featured a live demonstration of Schwartz Rounds, a reflective practice that allows staff to discuss the emotional and social challenges of providing care.

The key features of Schwartz Rounds included case-oriented discussions where practitioners shared experiences based on a common theme, followed by a facilitated group discussion. The sessions were emotionally focused, providing a safe space to explore the personal impacts of working in healthcare, addressing issues like stress and compassion fatigue. Interdisciplinary sharing was encouraged, fostering broader understanding and empathy among participants from various healthcare disciplines. The supportive environment aimed to enhance communication, team cohesion, and personal well-being through open and honest dialogue.

For more details about Schwartz Rounds, attendees were directed to visit The Point of Care Foundation website.

On Thursday, 28th November, from 10am to 12pm, the Civic Networking Event on "The Importance of Partnerships in Research" took place at the LRC, Park Building. Nikki Fairchild delivered a presentation highlighting the crucial role of partnerships in research projects. She discussed building relationships, engaging key stakeholders, and creating impactful collaboration opportunities. The event also covered the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), a joint initiative by Portsmouth City Council, HIVE Portsmouth, and the University of Portsmouth, funded by the National Institute for Health Research.

Attendees learned about impactful research collaborations, gained insights into local health challenges, explored opportunities for involvement in community-based research and public health interventions, and networked with colleagues and stakeholders from various disciplines.

The HDRC focuses on improving health outcomes for disadvantaged local residents through exploratory research and community engagement. One of the key projects during the development year involved understanding the impact of social inequality on language and communication development in early years.

The event featured a presentation by Nikki on the importance of research partnerships, insights into the HDRC and its impact on local health, opportunities for collaboration and networking, and refreshments including coffee and cake.

This inspiring event highlights the ground breaking journey of Shakar Jafari, founder of TrueInvivo, a revolutionary MedTech company advancing cancer treatment technology. Hosted at the University of Portsmouth, it celebrates women's achievements in STEM, resilience, and innovation. The event includes keynote speeches, a panel discussion, and a networking session, showcasing Shakar's journey from refugee to receiving the prestigious Purple Plaque from Innovate UK.