Canterbury Christ Church University is delighted to announce the launch of it it’s Civic University Agreement – ‘Our Pledges’.

The University, in collaboration with key partners, has worked to define how it will strengthen, celebrate and support Kent and Medway in the next five years.

Through developing ‘Our Pledges’, the University will work to improve the economic, social, environmental, and cultural vitality of its local communities.

The three priority areas for the University are Our People, Our Place, Our Partners:

· supporting our local communities and the people living, working and studying here,

· celebrating and promoting the diverse place we live in and share,

· developing strong partnerships to deliver Our Pledges.

Canterbury Christ Church University’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Rama Thirunamachandran OBE DL said: “As an institution with strong ties and partnerships with the communities that we serve, we are delighted to present Our Pledges to Kent and Medway, to reaffirm our role and clearly communicate how we plan to respond to the challenges that our local communities face.

“We will continue to work with our partners and work effectively to address regional needs, and identify how we can further support and contribute to collaborative solutions, as a positive force for change.”

More than 10 organisations including Kent County Council, Social Enterprise Kent, Canterbury City Council, Medway Council, Canterbury Cathedral, Discovery Park, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, and East Kent Chambers of Commerce, came together at the Canterbury Campus, to hear how the University will drive sustainable social and economic change in Kent and Medway at the ‘Our Pledges’ launch event.

The University’s civic and community engaged work already reaches into wide-ranging areas of society such as health and wellbeing, arts and culture, STEM, education, learning teaching, business, enterprise and engagement, sustainability, volunteering and outreach with schools, and public engagement.

Jane Kennedy, Chief Business Officer at Discovery Park, explained the importance of partnership working. “Discovery Park is proud to stand alongside Canterbury Christ Church University as partners committed to creating lasting opportunities and delivering transformative change across the Kent and Medway region,” she said.

“Through collaboration and a shared vision, we are unlocking the full potential of this vibrant, diverse area, with a particular focus on advancing STEM fields. The University’s pledges align with our mission to drive innovation, create high value jobs, and support sustainable growth. We look forward to continuing this vital work through our shared initiatives, including CoLab and the Industry Liaison Lab, which are fostering cutting-edge scientific research and development. Together, we are improving the economic, social, and cultural well-being of our communities for generations to come.”

Speaking at the launch event, Tudor Price, CEO of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, spoke of the importance of the University’s connection to local business. “The most significant piece of work the University is doing compared to many others is around accessibility to the business community,” he said.

“It is very easy for businesses of all sizes to be able to access the talent pool and the knowledge base at the University in ever growing sectors, to ensure accessibility continues to expand.”

Over the next five years, the University will commit to:

· Making a transformative and measurable impact on the region

· Proactively tackling many challenges, the next five years will bring

· Forging a brighter, more prosperous and sustainable future for all

Read the ‘Our Pledges’ booklet for more details.