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

The Universities Partnership, a collaboration between University of Leicester, De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and Loughborough University, is joining forces with Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham in an unprecedented ambitious project called Co(l)laboratory which brings together academia and the community to support growth and development, broaden prospects, drive change, and improve wellbeing.

The innovative project aims to transform the way research is conducted by putting communities in the driving seat and widening access to research and PhD training programmes for talented people from non-traditional academic backgrounds.

Backed by Research England’s Development Fund, the project will fund 27 new PhD studentships in Leicestershire alone, all focused on civically-engaged research, 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.

The project is the latest collaboration between Leicester, DMU and Loughborough, after the three universities came together with five local authorities to form the . Founded in 2023, this civic agreement is a commitment between Leicestershire’s universities and the city and counties of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to work together for the benefit of local people and the prosperity of our places.

The Collaboratory programme is an eight-year project which commenced 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 .

Professor Richard Thomas, Pro Vice Chancellor Research and Enterprise at the University of Leicester, said: “Â鶹APP 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. Collab thus aligns with our strategic commitments to nurture the next generation of researchers to be world leaders in their field and generate new ideas which deliver impact and empower the communities in which we are embedded.”

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.”

Professor Mike Kagioglou, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Planning, Research and Innovation at De Montfort University said: “DMU’s 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 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.

“This an important and timely initiative for Loughborough as it aligns strongly with our strategic theme of Vibrant and Inclusive Communities. I look forward to welcoming the new doctoral researchers to our Doctoral College at Loughborough.”

The team is now inviting civic and community organisations in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland regions to think about problems they are experiencing and to get in touch to explore a potential collaboration to tackle those issues through research.

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:

• Community partners 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
• Community partners and wider colleagues 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

Information webinars are being held for both researchers and community and civic organisations, which will introduce the Collaboratory programme, provide an overview of the research project co-creation process, outline how research projects work, and what the expectations are. More information can be found .

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