Civic University

We're committed to enhancing the local community and region through our research, services, estate, and staff and student collaboration. We're more than the University of Portsmouth — we're the University 'for' Portsmouth.

What is a Civic University?

Our goal as a civic university is for our education and research knowledge and skills to benefit the city of Portsmouth and our wider region. To achieve this, we collaborate with local partners to improve health, sustainability, and inclusion in our area, all while boosting the local economy and enhancing our social and cultural scene.

In 2019, we were one of the first universities to develop a Civic Partnership Agreement with local community and regional partners. This agreement focuses on six key priorities, which we embedded into our University Strategy as a primary goal — aiming to be one of the top civic universities in the UK.

Explore Our Civic Impact: Projects & Partnerships

Our research, projects and partnerships have positive impacts across Portsmouth. Use this map to see exactly where, and what, we're doing to develop the city around us.

Using the map:

Explore our diverse range of projects and their impact on the community through our interactive map. Follow these steps to make the most of your experience:

Filter Projects: Use the filter toggle located at the bottom of the map to select the project category you're most interested in. Our projects are grouped into five categories: Social Impact, Health & Wellbeing, Environment, and Cultural & Arts and Economic Impact.
Learn More: Click on any map pin to discover detailed information about specific projects. This includes a brief description, key contacts, and any relevant links for further information.
Navigate: Use the zoom controls on the left side of the map. This helps you get a better sense of the geographical spread and scale of our initiatives.

How we impact Portsmouth and the local region

We want to make a tangible difference in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas, working hand-in-hand with the region we call home. We pride ourselves on being inclusive, and are actively contributing to the economic, social, and cultural vitality of our community.

Enhancing lives through volunteering

At the University of Portsmouth, our robust volunteering culture is integral to community development. Annually, students and staff contribute over 140,000 hours to 124 local organisations, significantly enhancing our region's social and cultural fabric.

Furthering our commitment, we provide vital services free of charge, including the Accounting Clinic, Legal Clinic, and Dental Academy Patient Services. These initiatives exemplify our holistic approach to community engagement and underscore our impactful contributions.

Discover more about our volunteering impact and opportunities here.

Growing local business through collaboration

We collaborate with local businesses, organisations and the public sector by offering free support, advice, and services to the local business community.

We offer business services to support and grow local businesses, including our General Legal Advice Clinic, Female Entrepreneurs Network (FEN), Innovation Connect, conference and event space, co-working and office space, free energy efficiency audits and funding through Low Carbon Solent for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become more sustainable.

Promoting the city of Portsmouth

Portsmouth has unique strengths and a rich heritage. We want to show the world how great this city is. Through partnership work, we aim to champion shared interests, support economic growth and make the city a destination of choice for people to live, work and visit.

We've partners with Portsmouth Football Club to improve and promote our city, increase local participation in higher education, and provide work experience for our students.

We're also working to improve our sustainability and become a climate positive university by 2030.

Driving inclusiveness

We're a Stonewall Diversity Champion and work with groups including Working Families, Time to Change, Mindful Employer, AccessAble and Disability Confident. We're also members of two Higher Education lead charters, Athena SWAN and the Race Equality Charter, which drive gender and race equality. Find out more about our equality and diversity work.

We're improving access to education by supporting children in care and care leavers, Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, military service children in Portsmouth and refugees and asylum seekers by becoming a University of Sanctuary.

Upcoming Events: Click Title for More Information

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.

Location: Future Technology Centre, University of Portsmouth.

To book a place follow link here.

Civic Networking Event: The Importance of Partnerships in Research

Date: Thursday 28th November
Time: 10am - 12pm
Location: LRC, Park Building

Join us for a presentation by Nikki Fairchild, exploring the crucial role of partnerships in research projects. The presentation will cover building relationships, engaging key stakeholders, and creating impactful opportunities for collaboration. Nikki will discuss the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), a joint effort by Portsmouth City Council, HIVE Portsmouth, and the University of Portsmouth, funded by the National Institute for Health Research.

Why Attend?

Learn about impactful research collaborations: Understand how partnerships can enhance research projects and benefit the community.
Gain insights into local health challenges: Discover the significant health disparities in Portsmouth and how the HDRC aims to address them.
Explore opportunities for collaboration: Identify potential areas for your involvement in community-based research and public health interventions.
Network with colleagues and stakeholders: Connect with colleagues from various disciplines.

About the HDRC: The HDRC focuses on the experiences of local residents facing disadvantage, aiming to improve health outcomes through exploratory research and community engagement. One of the key development year projects includes understanding the impact of social inequality on language and communication development in early years.

Event Highlights:

Presentation by Nikki on the importance of research partnerships
Insights into the HDRC and its impact on local health
Opportunities for collaboration and networking
Coffee and cake

We look forward to seeing you there!

Session #1: Supporting the Emotional Wellbeing of Practitioners

Theme: Schwartz Rounds Demonstration
Date: Thursday, 5th December
Time: 9.15 AM - 11.30 AM (Venue open from 9 AM - 12 Noon for extra coffee/networking)
Location: Oasis Centre, Arundel Street, Portsmouth, PO1 1NP

Join us for an engaging session designed to support the emotional and social wellbeing of healthcare practitioners. This seminar will feature a live demonstration of Schwartz Rounds, a reflective practice that allows staff to discuss the emotional and social challenges of providing care.

Key Features of Schwartz Rounds:

Case-Oriented: Practitioners share experiences based on a common theme, followed by a facilitated group discussion.
Emotionally Focused: The sessions provide a safe space to explore the personal impacts of working in healthcare, addressing issues like stress and compassion fatigue.
Interdisciplinary Sharing: Encouraging participation from various healthcare disciplines to foster a broader understanding and empathy.
Supportive Environment: Aims to enhance communication, team cohesion, and personal well-being through open and honest dialogue.

Additional Information:

Accessibility: Special access needs will be accommodated upon request. Please contact us by Tuesday, 26th November for arrangements.
Parking: Limited availability. Alternative transportation via train, bus, cycle routes, or Park ‘n’ Ride is recommended.
Dietary Needs: Please register by Tuesday, 26th November to ensure your dietary requirements are met.

For more details about Schwartz Rounds, visit The Point of Care Foundation website.

To reserve your spot or for any inquiries, please contact civicuniversity@port.ac.uk or see the link here to register.

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!

See all events

Previous Events

Black History Month at the University of Portsmouth aims to promote understanding of Black history, culture, and heritage, while also celebrating the positive contributions of Black individuals to British society. The theme for 2024, "Reclaiming Narratives," focuses on correcting historical inaccuracies and celebrating Black excellence across various fields.

Key initiatives include:

Nigerian Independence Day Celebration (1 October): Book reading event at the University Library, followed by networking and community engagement.
UoP Black History Showcase (2 October): A series of talks by students and colleagues to highlight Black history's impact on culture and society.
Step Into Uganda (9 October): An event in the Students’ Union celebrating Ugandan history and culture.
Nollywood Comedy Film Night (15 October): Screening of a Nollywood film at Sparks, open to the University community.
Wear Red Day (18 October): A campaign to raise awareness about anti-racism by wearing red and posting on social media.
Kickabout on Gun House Green (23 October): A community sports event organised by the Students' Union.
PGM Ambassadors Black History Month Exhibition (4 November): Exhibition at the University Library celebrating Black heritage.

For further information and to register for events please follow link here.

Date: Sunday, 1 September 2024
Location: The Guildhall, Portsmouth

Join Mindset Maintenance LIVE 2024, a premier wellbeing seminar hosted by Mindset Maintenance CIC. This event will feature discussions on hormone and gut health, neurodiversity, and community power, with speakers like Alex Partridge of UNILAD & LADbible. Mindset Maintenance CIC is closely connected to the University of Portsmouth’s work with Portsmouth City Council and the Health Determinants Research Collaborative, focusing on health in the city, and has been part of the community/peer research cohort.

The University Library invites you to find out about (and visit) this wonderful collection, Outside in World: Children's Books in Translation by joining us at one of our upcoming drop-ins. Discover this prestigious collection of international books that have been translated from their original languages into English. Situated near the Library Café, we actively encourage the use of this unique collection to support research and teaching, community outreach, and reading for pleasure, which you are welcome to visit at any time.

The events are both advertised on Eventbrite:

31 July drop-in/storytime - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/942300475087?aff=oddtdtcreator
9 August drop-in/storytime - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/942300475087?aff=oddtdtcreator

Collaborate with us

If you're brimming with ideas for civic projects or eager to share the impactful activities you're already championing, we encourage you to send us an email. Every contribution you make is a an essential part of the change we're creating as a community.

Let us know about your ongoing civic work as a current member of staff, student, or another part of the University community, or reach out to us with a new project idea.

And if you're not officially part of our community yet but are drawn to civic collaboration, we warmly welcome your interest. Whether you're a part of our existing University community or you're looking to working with us for the first time, your unique perspective and active involvement will help us develop our future.

If you're also interested in keeping up to date on the civic networking events, please email sue.knight@port.ac.uk.

Email civicuniversity@port.ac.uk