Ð԰ɵç̨

Community organisations across Leicestershire are being offered the chance to steer university research, thanks to a £2.3 million expansion of a pioneering programme that puts local people at the heart of tackling regional challenges.

Ð԰ɵç̨ Leicester (Ð԰ɵç̨), the University of Leicester and Loughborough University have joined the ground breaking Co(l)laboratory programme as part of the – a civic agreement between the three organisations to benefit people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Led by Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham, Co(l)laboratory connects researchers with local communities to tackle real-world issues, spark local growth, and improve wellbeing.

Backed by Research England’s Development Fund, the project will fund 27 new PhD studentships in Leicestershire alone, all focused on research projects that affect real lives, such as supporting young people into work and tackling public health initatives, with a total of 77 research projects planned across the region. Community partners whose project proposals are selected will receive tailored support, join a growing professional network, and gain access to research training and university resources.

Professor Mike Kagioglou, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Planning, Research and Innovation at Ð԰ɵç̨ said: "Ð԰ɵç̨ is proud to be part of this inspiring initiative that puts communities at the heart of research. The programme is a powerful way to open up doctoral study to people from all walks of life and ensure the research happening in our universities is rooted in the real challenges our region faces.

"This is about nurturing new voices in research, forging stronger links with our local communities, and making sure the work we do delivers genuine impact where it matters most. We're proud to be working alongside our Midlands partners in shaping a more inclusive future for research and fostering a new generation of impactful research and researchers."

Professor Richard Thomas, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise at the University of Leicester, said: "The University of Leicester is delighted to become a partner institution in the Collaboratory project. This programme will provide a fantastic opportunity for researchers from non-traditional backgrounds to develop their academic skills, whilst also improving the lives of people in our local community through their research."

Professor Steve Christie, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Doctoral College at Loughborough University, said: "I'm delighted that this exciting regional collaboration is starting. This will allow the Leicestershire Universities to join forces with our Nottinghamshire colleagues to promote research activities that are particularly important to the communities we live in."

How can I get involved?

The team is now inviting civic and community organisations in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to think about problems they are experiencing and to get in touch to explore a potential collaboration to tackle those issues through research. The first deadline is May 18, and there is another opportunity on September 10.

If the project proposal is chosen, community partners will be able to benefit from a range of unique opportunities, as well as the benefits of the research:

• You will join a growing community of practice network, made of up of professionals from local organisations. They are directly supported by the Co(l)laboratory team to share best practice and to get the most out of the collaboration
  
  
• You will have access to a bespoke series of research skill CPD sessions. These courses offer a practical introduction to core research competencies, concepts and tools that can be applied to solving a wide array of challenges that many community-focused organisations currently face. Community partners will also receive associate access accounts to partner universities, offering direct access to world-class researcher development courses, academic resources and more
  
  
• By collaborating with university researchers in supporting and guiding a Co(l)laboratory Research project, partners will have the opportunity to have challenges relevant to the organisation and the communities they work with to be addressed through the research projects

The Co(l)laboratory programme is an eight-year ambitious project which began in 2022, initially as part of the and has given students with typically non-traditional academic backgrounds the chance to make real change and improve the lives of the communities around them.

Example projects to date include , , and .

Rebekah Smith McGloin, Director of Research Culture and Environment at Nottingham Trent University said: “Our Collab programme has been hailed as innovative, something no other universities have done before. It is testament to the success of the programme that we have been able to extend the reach of our doctoral research to Leicester and Leicestershire, and we’re really excited to see how we can make long-lasting change to those communities going forward.”

Professor Paul Grainge, Collaboratory Lead for the University of Nottingham, said: “Leicester’s universities joining the Collaboratory – a programme founded through the Universities for Nottingham civic partnership – is a powerful testament to the momentum and impact of civic collaboration, as we come together across cities to drive positive change in our communities.”

Click here for more information about the .