User:Sparks1666/Sandbox

CUE stands for Community University Engagement. CUE East[1] is the eastern region Beacon for Public engagement, one of six nationwide [2]. CUE East is led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich [3], and is a four year funded pilot project to promote awareness, understanding and promotion of public engagement. The project runs from January 2008 to December 2011.

CUE East objectives
In the past public engagement has not been seen as a major role of universities and is not seen as favourably as research and teaching. Therefore the main aim of CUE East and the beacons project as a whole is to change this attitude and create a new culture where public engagement is seen a major function of universities and is rewarded as such. CUE East plans to identify and build on best practice delivery structures across the University [4], including the Norwich Research Park (NRP)[5] the [HTTP://www.JIC.ac.uk John Innes Centre (JIC)][6], the Institute of Food Research (IFR)[7] and the Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts (SCVA)[8].

Over time, this project will review and refresh internal processes, procedures and structures, such as the appraisal and promotions criteria, so that public engagement can be encouraged, recognised, and rewarded. Part of this will include the setting up of a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Programme [9] that will focus on training and development around public engagement.

Cue East will deploy a fund that, with appropriate guidance, will identify, incentivise and reward key individuals who make significant contributions in this area of activity.

In terms of outward looking activities, a key feature of CUE East is a presence at The Forum [10], located off campus in Norwich City centre, which will provide a city contact point for the public and digital facilities for university staff and students to use in their public engagement activities.

CUE East has links to many local and national partner organisations which they co-ordinate with to reach these objectives. [11][12]

Public Engagement
In the context of CUE East and the Beacons project the term ‘public engagement’ covers a wide range of activities. It covers schemes that get non specialists more involved in the work of higher education institutions (HEI’s) and research institutions and centres. This includes participatory processes and activities in museums, arts festivals and the science centres. There is also training and development for staff and students in public engagement. However, it does not include activities where the primary purpose is to generate approval or acceptance of the institution (such as might be carried out by an organisation’s public relations department), or to recruit students, for example through open days.

The term public includes individuals, groups, young people and their families who do not currently have a formal relationship with an HEI through teaching, research or knowledge transfer, but who may have an interest in these activities.

Why invest in public engagement?
The project funders [13] [14] [15] believe that public engagement activity makes people more aware of the opportunities open to them, and more empowered to take an informed part in the democratic process and the decisions affecting their lives. At the same time, activity of this kind makes young people, their families, individuals and groups more aware of the contributions made to the nation’s health, wealth and culture by different subjects and the links between them.

It is thought such activity will help secure the supply of those wishing to become involved in higher education and research by enthusing and inspiring people of all ages through engagement with current developments in different subject areas, contemporary research and higher education opportunities.

The funding partners also believe that engaging with the public can ensure that research and other higher education activities continue to earn public confidence, and that it can improve the quality of work undertaken in HEI’s.

The Beacons Project
The National Beacons project has received £9.2 million over four years to promote and support pubic engagement in higher education. The key funders are Research Councils UK [13],  the Wellcome Trust [14] and The Higher Education Funding Councils [15]. The CUE East project has received £1.2 million from this over four years [1].

Surveys (refs needed) undertaken by the funders found that there were a number of barriers to participation in public engagement by HEI staff. In particular the research driven culture – including pressure to publish, attract funding for and build careers on ‘hard research’ meant that public engagement is not a priority within many HEI’s. Public engagement is seen as not well regarded by peers, and is difficult to undertake as it does not bring in significant funding. This National Beacons initiative was set up to address some of these issues and change this culture so that more focus is put on public engagement.

The Beacons project is made up of 6 centres, or beacons, based around the country each a partnership between universities, museums, broadcasters and community organisations. They were set up to establish a co-ordinated approach to recognising, rewarding and building capacity for public engagement. They are all co-ordinated through the national co-ordinating centre in Bristol [2].