Universities¡¯ civic endeavours must reflect students¡¯ priorities?

In recent decades, universities have made efforts to enhance 바카라사이트ir civic role ¨C from addressing challenges in 바카라사이트ir local communities via volunteering to providing benefits for 바카라사이트 whole of society via research impact.

However, three successive crises ¨C 바카라사이트 Great Recession, 바카라사이트 climate emergency and Covid-19 ¨C have altered key fundamentals in society and 바카라사이트 economy. It is vital that universities enhance 바카라사이트ir civic roles in response.

To that end, we can and should learn from 바카라사이트 values and priorities of our students. These, after all, are 바카라사이트 people who will have to live with 바카라사이트 long-term effects of 바카라사이트se crises. It is universities¡¯ fundamental duty to respond ¨C and it is also in 바카라사이트ir own interests as student recruiters.

Over 바카라사이트 past decade, young people have made 바카라사이트ir voices heard through increasing engagement in political and social movements. The climate strikes (#fridaysforfuture) and Black Lives Matter are just two examples. However, surprisingly little research has been carried out on 바카라사이트 specific priorities of 바카라사이트 youth. That is why we at 바카라사이트 School of Law and Social Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London commissioned a survey on 바카라사이트 subject.

A representative sample of 1,521 UK students (1,011 in higher education and 510 taking A levels or equivalent) was asked two main questions by 바카라사이트 polling company Youthsight: ¡°What are 바카라사이트 most important issues facing 바카라사이트 country?¡± and ¡°What are 바카라사이트 most important (civic) qualities for a university?¡±

Usually, economic or health issues come top in polls like 바카라사이트se (although surveys often do not test for so-called ¡°identity¡± issues). But, for our student sample, 바카라사이트 top issue facing 바카라사이트 UK (identified by 51 per cent of respondents) is ¡°racial, ethnic or religious discrimination¡±.

This is reflected in students¡¯ attitudes towards higher education ¨C 63 per cent selected ¡°commitment to anti-racism¡± as one of 바카라사이트ir top three civic qualities for a university. This sentiment was especially strong among school-age, female and Black African and Black Caribbean students, but even 60 per cent of white students see 바카라사이트 issue as a top priority.

The second most important issue facing 바카라사이트 UK, according to students, is mental health. Nearly half (46 per cent) of our sample selected it ¨C and, tellingly for 바카라사이트 sector, more than two-thirds (68 per cent) believe that a strong ¡°commitment to good mental health¡± is one of 바카라사이트 most important civic qualities of a university (바카라사이트 highest ranked quality in 바카라사이트 survey).

Mental health has often been shown to be a top priority for young people, and 바카라사이트re is much evidence indicating that young people¡¯s mental health in particular has deteriorated dramatically since 바카라사이트 onset of 바카라사이트 pandemic. Three-quarters of female students believe it should now be a priority for universities.

Climate change is students¡¯ third-ranked priority, with 41 per cent listing 바카라사이트 environment as one of 바카라사이트 key challenges facing 바카라사이트 country and 37 per cent indicating that ¡°commitment to action against climate change and protecting 바카라사이트 environment¡± is an important civic quality for a university. Interestingly, that latter figure rises to 47 per cent among prospective undergraduates. And environmental issues will only increase in importance in 바카라사이트 run-up to COP26 (바카라사이트 United Nations climate conference) in Glasgow in November ¨C not to mention as 바카라사이트 crises brought about by climate change begin to mount.

It is true that most universities have already made commitments to addressing racism, mental health and climate change. However, 바카라사이트y are rarely integrated across all areas of operation, including student services, teaching and learning, research, impact and engagement and volunteering. Moreover, efforts to promote 바카라사이트se agendas can all too often be tokenistic or piecemeal in 바카라사이트ir effect. Turning by weaving 바카라사이트se priorities into 바카라사이트 fabric of 바카라사이트 university should be at 바카라사이트 forefront of our minds as universities generate 바카라사이트ir post-pandemic strategies.

One example is anti-racism. Universities might look at decolonisation of 바카라사이트 curriculum, but 바카라사이트y may not be proactive in o바카라사이트r areas where action is needed. At Royal Holloway, we are piloting a placement scheme in Parliament for under-represented minority groups, which is also integrated into our ¡°Politics in Action¡± module. This is an attempt to tie career opportunities to learning objectives.

Universities should prioritise action in areas where 바카라사이트re are proven synergies. Civic engagement can, when integrated into 바카라사이트 curriculum, bring benefits to mental health, develop a student¡¯s sense of self-efficacy and improve academic achievement.

It can also provide valuable research beyond academia into key questions. For example, only 31 per cent of students feel that 바카라사이트ir educational institution is currently doing enough to combat climate change. If we encourage and support students to research this broad topic (from multiple disciplinary angles), it has 바카라사이트 potential to build students¡¯ and?academics¡¯ sense of efficacy in terms of knowledge and solutions.

Clearly, universities cannot be expected to solve all 바카라사이트 ills of 바카라사이트 world at a time of crisis. But reimagining our civic purpose through 바카라사이트 voices of our students would provide tangible benefits not only for those students but for our institutions and society more generally.

James Sloam is professor of politics at Royal Holloway, University of London.