A One-Day Conference on the 25th February 2027 at The University of Westminster

Universities are increasingly being called upon to demonstrate their public value and civic purpose. At a time of growing social inequality, democratic challenges, and pressure on higher education institutions to evidence meaningful impact, new models of collaboration between universities and communities are emerging.

One of the most significant developments has been the growth of broad-based community organising and the formation of enduring partnerships between universities and civic alliances.

This conference explores how organising is reshaping the university's role in society. Inspired by recent developments in community-engaged research and the emergence of the idea of what Tattersall and Stears call the Relational University, we examine how organising practices can transform research, teaching, knowledge exchange, and institutional culture. [1]

Community organising offers more than a set of engagement techniques; it provides a framework for building relationships, understanding power, co-producing knowledge, and advancing social change through collective action. Drawing upon the Relational Method and growing experience across the UK and internationally, the conference seeks to showcase innovative examples of research-led partnerships between civic alliances and universities and to explore their implications for the future of higher education.

Conference Aims

The conference aims to:

• Advance understanding of organising as a transformative approach within higher education.
• Showcase research-led partnerships between civic alliances and universities that generate both scholarly and social impact.
• Explore the contribution of organising to the civic university agenda and institutional public purpose.
• Foster dialogue between academics, students, professional staff, community organisers, civic leaders, chaplains, and community partners.
• Build a national network of scholars and practitioners committed to democratic, relational, and community-engaged approaches to research and education.

Themes

We welcome papers, panels, roundtables, workshops, and practice-based contributions on topics including:

Research-Led Partnerships Between Universities and Civic Alliances

• Co-produced and participatory research
• Community-engaged and relational research methodologies
• Impact, knowledge exchange, and public engagement
• Building long-term institutional partnerships
• Research as a tool for democratic participation and social change

The Relational University

• The Relational Method and community-engaged scholarship
• Rethinking knowledge production through organising
• Power, relationships, and collaboration in research
• Transforming institutional cultures and practices
• Universities and democratic renewal

Organising and the Civic University

• Universities as civic actors and anchor institutions
• Social justice and public purpose in higher education
• Community wealth building, living wage campaigns, and local development
• Place-based partnerships and regional civic ecosystems

Teaching, Learning and Student Organising

• Community organising in the curriculum
• Student participation and democratic learning
• Service learning, experiential education, and civic leadership
• Student unions and community alliances

Building Organising Capacity Within Universities

• Leadership development and training
• Institutional barriers and opportunities
• Professional services, chaplaincies, and organising
• Cross-sector collaboration and coalition building

Who should attend?

We invite contributions from:

• Academics and researchers
• Postgraduate and doctoral researchers
• Students and student leaders
• Professional services staff
• Community organisers
• Civic alliance leaders and members
• Chaplains and faith leaders
• Third-sector and public-sector partners
• Anyone interested in the future civic role of universities

Submission Guidelines

Please submit one of the following:

• Individual Paper: 300-word abstract
• Panel Proposal: 500-word description, including contributors
• Workshop or Roundtable: 300-word outline describing format and objectives
• Practice-Based Case Study: 300-word summary of organising, partnership, or engagement work

Submissions should clearly indicate how they contribute to understanding organising, civic partnership, community-engaged research, or the public role of universities.

Key Dates

Call for Papers Opens: 16th October 2026

Submission Deadline: 18th December 2026

Notification of Acceptance: 8th January 2027

Conference Date: 25th February 2027

Submission and Enquiries

Please send abstracts and proposals to: power_ke@citizensuk.org

For enquiries, please contact: Dr Tim Hall: timothy.hall@citizensuk.org

[1] Tattersall A, Stears M. The Relational Method: How Community Organizing Can Reshape University Research. Perspectives on Politics. Published online 2025:1-17. doi:10.1017/S1537592725104039