Debates on the civic role of universities have persisted for decades, if not centuries, ranging from proponents of the more cloistered university focused sharply on academic excellence to advocates of the more socially active university, engaged in communities beyond the campus gates.
Regardless of where one lands on that spectrum, the significant impact of UK universities on their local communities, and their global sway, is plain to see.
However, an often-neglected perspective in these debates is universities viewed as part of our national and local social and cultural infrastructure.
Social and cultural infrastructure refers to spaces, services, and structures which foster community cohesion and strengthen social and cultural ties – libraries and community centres being prime examples. At the British Academy, our work on social and cultural infrastructure examines the role different institutions, sectors, and the actors within them can play in sustaining and building this infrastructure.
Examining the higher education sector from this perspective sheds light on how universities can serve as crucial venues for community engagement and the growth of social capital. It is also an important route into making sense of how they interact with other forms of social and cultural infrastructure – from local schools and sports clubs to museums and heritage sites.
