Sheffield Hallam has launched its Heart of the Region campaign to seek the views of the public to help shape the future of the University.
The campaign follows the University’s signing of the Civic University Agreement earlier this year – a pledge of commitment to the Sheffield City Region to put the economy and quality of life in the local community top of its list of priorities.
As part of the campaign, people living in the region are being encouraged to fill in a short survey to help the University understand how it can better support communities in the region in the future.
Professor Sir Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, said: “Sheffield Hallam has a vital role to play in the development of our region. We develop skills, we nurture innovation and we transform lives – but we also have an incredibly important civic responsibility.
“We want to be a beacon for what a university can do for and with its community.
“By taking part in a short survey, you can help us to understand how we can better support communities.”
The University already leads a number of key regional projects that help people lead healthier and more active lives, develop local SMEs and businesses to drive economic growth, meet the region’s skills and workforce needs, and support our children and young people to ensure they reach their potential.
These include South Yorkshire Futures, a groundbreaking social mobility partnership committed to improving education and raising aspiration for young people in South Yorkshire – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The programme – led by Sheffield Hallam University and backed by the Department for Education – addresses the educational attainment and wellbeing of young people across the region. It has secured significant national funding to deliver a number of regional initiatives, including extending Sheffield Children’s University and developing speech and language services for under 5s.
Our researchers are also helping people in the region, and beyond, to lead healthier lives, through our world-leading Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC).
The AWRC is dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of the population through innovations that help people move.
The University is also a major driver of the Sheffield economy – helping to improve productivity, narrowing skills gaps and supporting business through innovation and enterprise.
The University employs 5,000 staff, supports more than 9,000 local jobs, and adds an extra £424mllion to the Sheffield City Region economy every year.
Through specialist support including the Sheffield Innovation Programme, the University also supports the 40,000-strong local SME sector to grow.
The Civic University Agreement was a key recommendation in a report published by the Civic University Commission set up by the UPP Foundation and chaired by Sheffield Hallam’s Chair of Governors, Lord Bob Kerslake.
To find out more about the campaign and to take part in the survey, and have a chance to win a £50 voucher, visit the website.
For press information: Jo Beattie in the Sheffield Hallam University press office on 0114 225 2074 or email j.beattie@shu.ac.uk
