Repository: civic

Civic universities and climate education

Published: 2025

A review of literature and evidence, alongside case study examples, to understand the state of climate education in England.

Civic universities and green spaces

Published: 2025

A review of evidence on the relationship between green space, health and wellbeing in the context of universities.

Civic universities, skills gaps, and university-FE collaborations

Published: 2025

A review recognising the potential for greater collaboration between universities and colleges and identifying a lack of evidence on this topic.

Civic universities and their neighbours

Published: 2025

This review brings together literature and evidence to explore sites and practices of meaningful engagement between university students and local communities.

Finding and using data to understand university impact

Published: 2025

This synthesis of articles shares our user-centred approach to co-designing dashboards with universities to support their civic activities.

Civic universities and green spaces: mapping report

Published: 2025

This research begins the work of mapping university green space in relation to underlying mental health and wellbeing data, and showcasing some of the good work already taking place in universities across the country. It also explores the potential to scale the methodological approach taken to other universities and places across the UK in futu…

Meaningful engagement between students and local communities

Published: 2025

This research explores the question of what sites and practices of meaningful student community engagement look like, particularly from much-needed student and community perspectives. The report presents five case studies which showcase varied examples of student community engagement practices across England, and explores factors that make enga…

Purpose through data

Published: 2025

From 2022 to 2025, the Institute for Community Studies at The Young Foundation carried out primary and secondary research in support of the National Civic Impact Accelerator (NCIA) programme. This included exploring, with a range of academic and NCIA partners, how to create practical resources and guidance to help universities use data to under…

Harnessing university-owned green spaces for wellbeing: evidence-informed recommendations for policymakers

Published: 2025

This paper connects key findings and recommendations emerging from the Institute for Community Studies’ research on university green spaces with current and potential policy opportunities. It outlines how policymakers and partners could work with universities and other key stakeholders, particularly estates teams, to drive access to and uses of…

Reimagining university-led climate education: evidence- informed recommendations for policymakers

Published: 2025

This paper draws on research into civic climate higher education, undertaken by the Institute for Community Studies at The Young Foundation, alongside analysis of current English climate education policy. It aims to outline new opportunities for evidence-informed civic approaches to climate education, building in the flexibility to enable each …

An emerging research strategy for civic universities

Published: 2025

This agenda outlines the Institute for Community Studies’ approach to research and evidence generation for the NCIA programme. It shares our process of working with four co-commissioning panels to develop priority research topic areas that explore the conditions required to support universities in making a positive contribution in the their place.

Maximising student community engagement to enhance local places: evidence informed advice for universities

Published: 2025

This report builds on NCIA research to offer evidence-informed recommendations for universities on student-community engagement in their region.