As part of the University's new Civic Engagement Strategy, learn about the working currently undertaken within the theme of Education.

Published Monday, 10th May, 2021 in University news

City recently unveiled its new plans for a Civic Engagement Strategy to support its engagement activities locally, nationally and globally with the following vision:

Building on City’s charitable roots, we work with and for our vibration and diverse communities to create and share knowledge and skills, strengthen and connect partnerships and enable opportunities in order to enrich and transform lives.

The strategy has been categorised into five themes: Economic prosperity, Education, Health and Wellbeing, Society, and Sustainability.

Within the Education theme, City aims to improve educational aspirations and attainment levels and increase lifelong learning and professional development opportunities for you.

City’s objectives:

  • Enable students from underrepresented groups to understand educational opportunities available
  • Inspire school age children to engage fully with their current learning and open their minds to future opportunities
  • Continue working closely with local businesses to upskill those working and studying in the community
  • Sharing skills and expertise to benefit the community
  • Deliver commitments made in City’s Vision and Strategy 2026, EDI strategy, Education and Student Strategy and Access and Participation work.

Sarah Wood, Widening Participation Outreach Manager, sits on the Civic Engagement Task & Finish Group. Sharing how her team’s work fits under civic engagement, she says:

The Widening Participation team aims to empower underrepresented learnings to access and success in higher education. We achieve this by working with, and being part of, our local education community.

Informed by ongoing conversations with our community we adapted our offer to a world where face-to-face delivery was no longer an option. We continued to prioritise information, advice and guidance so young people have the skills they need to make their own decisions about their education. We also delivered resources, stationery, learning packs and laptops to support the leaning of this most impacted by digital poverty.

What it means in practice

Providing free legal advice to the community through the registered LawWorks clinic

City Law School students offer free legal advice in a range of areas to members of the public.

STEM Girls that code

Staff in the School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering are working with girls to improve diversity in technology.

Widening Participation and Outreach activities

A range of activities to encourage Widening Participation in Higher Education, including taster weeks, tutoring and mentoring, subject-specific workshops and staff and students delivering sessions in local schools.

Public lectures

Debates and events on a range of topics at City, which are open to the staff, students, alumni and the public.

Micro-placements

City students who want to explore careers different from those traditionally associated with their degree can gain professional experience via short summer placements at an SME.

City of London Academy Islington

City co-sponsors the school (COLAI) with the City of London Corporation to help provide a new start for education in our community and bring new opportunities to gain the best results and benefits for local young people.

Do you think we’re missing anything, either in this theme or the others? Let us know by sharing your views in a short survey.