Surrey County Council and universities building a thriving future for all through shared commitment to action.
I’m delighted to announce the launch of a new Civic Agreement for Surrey, in partnership with Surrey County Council, and Surrey’s three leading universities – Royal Holloway; University for the Creative Arts; and the University of Surrey.
This groundbreaking initiative defines a shared commitment for Royal Holloway, along with the other organisations, to work collaboratively in the interests of the wider Surrey community: ensuring that no one is left behind. As a University of Social Purpose, we are taking a proactive role in tackling societal changes, enabling sustainable social and economic growth, and improving skills and opportunities for those in our community.
We want to help make Surrey a better place to study, live and work. A big part of this begins with you, our students. I am so incredibly proud that Royal Holloway students currently provide around 11,000 volunteering hours a year to local community projects throughout Egham and Englefield Green via our award-winning Royal Holloway Volunteering team. Many of you also contribute to our Community Research Hub, an initiative that matches students who want experience applying research skills with charities and non-profits needing support with surveys, analysis, reports, literature reviews, desk-based research, ethnographic research and more. It is projects, initiatives and student action like this that work hand in hand with our inclusive education and research, and our collaboration with academic partners, community groups, schools and local government to help bring investment, jobs and opportunity to Surrey so that everyone benefits.
Declaring our public agenda through the Civic Agreement for Surrey will amplify the positive role our university can play in this region. By pooling resources and expertise, with our fellow universities and the County Council, we believe we are better placed to address local needs, drive innovation, and create a more inclusive and resilient Surrey by 2030. The Civic Agreement will serve as a public commitment to working together to bring about real and positive change to the people who live, learn and work in our communities across the county.
Thank you all for being part of this exciting future,
Julie
Professor Julie Sanders, Vice-Chancellor and Principal