External Engagement at BSS is about how we engage with individuals, communities, charities, organisations, public bodies, businesses and policymakers. We recognise the value of working in tandem with collaborative partners as well as providing activities and services to the wider community.
Through meaningful exchange, we seek to make a positive impact in our region and the world with the targeted application of our distinctive areas of expertise, and enhance the work of our academics and staff and the learning of our students through a deep and practical connection with life beyond our institution.
Our vision is to be an engaged, forward-looking college – a college that cares about the social good, and seeks to promote inclusive growth and sustainable communities. Our work covers four key areas:
- Communities and Society
Our vision is to contribute positively and add value to our region and society as a whole. We aspire to bring non-academic stakeholders together, and work towards tackling structural inequalities. We work closely with voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations and the public sector to build sustainable communities.
Click here to find out more about our partnership with the NHS and VCFSEs to tackle health inequalities in Birmingham.
Click here to find out more about some of our Public Engagement activities.- Business
We provide practical growth programmes for ambitious business leaders and entrepreneurs, as well as innovation and R&D support for high-growth-potential businesses, promoting inclusive economic growth for our region and working in partnership to deliver high-quality engagement activities underpinned by cutting-edge enterprise research.
- Policymakers and Government
Our knowledge exchange activities generate impactful and policy-relevant research. We do so by promoting interdisciplinary and collaborative work, drawing on the expertise of researchers in a variety of fields.
- Research
Aston is a signatory to the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE)’s Manifesto for Public Engagement. As such, we have a responsibility to contribute to society through public engagement with research. Our aims are to share knowledge, resources and skills with the public, to listen and learn from the expertise and insight of the different communities with which we engage.
Our research strategy focuses on our Centres of Excellence and our Civic University Agreement. Our work in Knowledge Exchange informs and influences policy to foster a culture of evidence-based policymaking. This process takes many forms, including providing advice to government, organising policy briefings in areas such as bioenergy and ethnic minority entrepreneurship, and using our research and influence to improve policymaking practices internationally.
Society matters LIVE
Discover our in-person event series hosted in collaboration with Cafe Artum, Hockley Social Club.
Podcasts
Society matters
Society matters is a podcast which explores some of the fascinating work of academics within the School on current societal matters that shape our world and the way that people live.
Latest episode
Aston means business
Aston means business is a podcast where our top academics provide essential advice to business owners and managers, entrepreneurs and students.
Latest episode
NCPPE
Aston is a signatory to the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE)’s Manifesto for Public Engagement. As such, we have a responsibility to contribute to society through public engagement with research locally and nationally. Our aims are to share knowledge, resources and skills with the public, to listen to and learn from the expertise and insight of the different communities with which we engage, and to (re)connect people with local, global and transnational issues, providing an enabling context for community engaged practices.
Get in Touch
Associate Dean Public Engagement, Céline Benoit | c.benoit@aston.ac.uk
Responsible for knowledge-sharing and knowledge-creating activities that bring together researchers in BSS and external stakeholders from our region and society.
Associate Dean Enterprise, Paula Whitehouse | p.a.whitehouse@aston.ac.uk
Responsible for knowledge exchange and engagement with businesses, student and graduate start-up support and extra-curricular student enterprise skills development.