University of Edinburgh

University of Edinburgh pledges to:

Challenge ourselves to increase the positive impact we make on our local community.

We will do the following things that we don’t do at the moment to improve our social impact.

Signed by Peter Mathieson, Principal, February 2026

1st Commitment

Procurement community benefits: Starting this year and over the coming years, we will extend our pilot approach we have been taking to community benefits within our procurements. This has involved providing a standardised menu of possible benefits for local communities that suppliers can commit to delivering as part of their contract with the University. We will extend its use more widely, incorporating any lessons learned. As an organisation, we will monitor and report on the progress of community benefit delivery associated with this extension. We will create case studies of good practice and promote them within and beyond the University, with the aim of further growing good quality community benefits for our local communities. We will ensure the menu remains appropriate through ongoing engagement with intermediary organisations to ensure awareness of the needs of our communities.

Geographical location of impact: City of Edinburgh, Fife, Lothians, Scottish Borders. University main postcode EH8 9YL
Contact details: Aidan Tracey, Social Impact Manager, Aidan.Tracey@ed.ac.uk

2nd Commitment

Community engaged learning: As part of our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2030 and Community Plan, we will embed, within our curriculum, learning opportunities for students which take place in and with communities. These include courses such as a Collaborative Ethnography of Edinburgh, and Students as Change Agents where students tackle real-world challenges set by local community partners and active engagement in communicating the results. In support of this, we will launch an experiential learning community of practice, to share best practice and knowledge

Geographical location of impact: City of Edinburgh, Fife, Lothians, Scottish Borders. University main postcode EH8 9YL.
Contact details: Professor Tina Harrison, Deputy Vice Principal Students, tina.harrison@ed.ac.uk

3rd Commitment

Community impact through Edinburgh Medical School 300 celebrations: We will undertake activities that ensure our local communities feel tangible positive impact of our celebration of 300 years of the Faculty of Medicine (EMS300) at the University of Edinburgh. We will achieve this through a dedicated community strand in our activities. This will include: a grants scheme for community-driven projects that create positive social impact related to the tricentenary; new short courses delivered by the Centre for Open Learning around EMS300, subsidised for applicants who may not normally afford such opportunities; continuing professional development opportunities for Scotland’s biology teachers; and a series of cultural events and activities for community groups and Edinburgh residents. The community strand connects to a range of stakeholders outside of the University of Edinburgh, as for example community groups, schools and policy and political influencers.

Geographical location of impact: Scotland-wide. Edinburgh Medical School postcode EH16 4UX
Contact details: Cathy Southworth, Senior BioQuarter Education and Community Manager, Cathy.Southworth@ed.ac.uk