Hosted here at UWE Bristol, the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement exist to inspire a culture change in the way universities across the UK engage with the public.
Our vision is of a higher education sector making a vital, strategic and valued contribution to 21st-century society through its public engagement activity.
In December we ran our annual conference for all those interested in public engagement in higher education. We had 450 delegates travel to Bristol from across the country to come together, to be inspired, challenged and refreshed.
The theme of our conference this year was disruption, in our universities, our research, our futures and our lives.
We reflected on the current contexts for engagement in a world that is increasingly fragmented; where social inequality deepens; where we are facing the consequences of our collective activity on the planet; and where we need to find more effective ways to address the challenges that face us all. All of this in a setting where the future of university funding is increasingly unpredictable, and where traditional paradigms of knowledge and knowledge production are being challenged from all sides.
Catch up on the highlights of Engage 2019, and watch the key note speech from Dame Julia Unwin, Chair of the Civil Society Futures Inquiry – a challenging external perspective on higher education’s place in the world and how we can contribute positively to society at a time of profound change and disruption.

Upcoming Public Engagement Impacts Workshop at UWE Bristol
A chance to refresh your REF 2021 thinking, enrich your understanding of public engagement impacts and how they can be evidenced, and consider the features of a high quality narrative – the NCCPE will be running a free bespoke workshop for UWE Bristol on Tuesday 21st January, 9.30 – 16.00.
The workshop will include expert guidance, group activities and discussions, sole work, paired feedback, and specialist knowledge provided by the NCCPE.
It will be relevant to anyone who is research active and hopes to collect and evidence impact from public engagement events. Places are limited, please register using the online form.