Communities across the United Kingdom have different social challenges and those working in Higher Education have the opportunity to share knowledge by working in partnership with them. According to a HEFCE report in 2010 it is one of the services universities offer society. The report notes five key areas Higher Education can deliver public benefit.

In no particular order:

1) Developing people to make a contribution to society

2) Innovating, informing and inspiring: opening up university knowledge, expertise and resources

3) Engaging communities and working in partnership: helping community problem solving

4) Informing public policy and the professions: helping communities engage with public policy, support civil society and deliver responsive public services

5) Stimulating local economic and social development

6) Building international connections: being anchors in the local that reach out to the global.

Area number 3 is of particular interest to my research around social exclusion. As I have written before, I like the idea of communities coming up with plans to write their own futures and residents feeling comfortable working with others for support. Could a university support a community through its expertise and impartiality?