The benefits of a University being in your town
There are a range of social, cultural and economic benefits that a University and its student population contribute to a town. Some examples are listed below:
- Employment: The Universities are amongst the largest employers in the Bath & North East Somerset area, employing a total number of 3535 staff between them.
- Education: Together the Universities offer a wide range of lifelong learning opportunities such as undergraduate, postgraduate, research and foundation degrees as well as language and arts courses and free public lectures. Both Universities run widening participation activities to encourage members of the local community to take up higher education opportunities. This ranges from partnership work with local colleges, mentors for local school children and open days for mature students.
- Volunteering: Within the past year approximately 2416 students have been involved in some kind of volunteering between the two Universities. Some of this includes working with the local community on one day events, medium and longer term projects as well as fundraising for local charities and organisations.
- Leisure & Culture: There are a wide range of sports facilities, performances, exhibitions, talks, workshops and classes that are open to the general public.
Aims:
- To promote excellent two-way relationships between Higher Education (HE) students and other members of the local communities in Bath and North East Somerset
- The Student Community Partnership provides a framework for joint working between the Universities in Bath and North East Somerset, their Student Unions and the Council, on matters which affect the relationship between students and the local community
Students in Bath & North East Somerset have played a significant and growing role in our local communities in recent years. It is recognised that the growth in student numbers has had an impact on a range of issues such as housing and local services.
All member organisations of the SCP wish to deepen mutual understanding of these issues. This means celebrating the contribution which students make to local life but also minimising impacts, both real and perceived, especially as they affect residential neighbourhoods.