Best of CASE Europe Region Award
 

Institution: The University of Nottingham

Title of entry: Universities for Nottingham Civic Winter Reception

About this entry: The University of Nottingham (UoN) and Nottingham Trent University (NTU) collaborate on the Universities for Nottingham (UfN) initiative which brings together local anchor organisations to deliver shared commitments under the UfN Civic Agreement. The annual UfN Vice-Chancellors' Winter Reception is a celebration of this collaboration and is an opportunity to showcase the universities’ contributions to Nottingham to local stakeholders and strengthen relationships.

The event was held at the GSK Carbon Neutral Laboratories (the first such laboratory in the UK) on UoN’s campus as it reflected the future and outward looking themes of the event. 145 civic leaders and partners enjoyed displays of interactive, cutting-edge technology being developed at the two universities which included holograms, a humanoid style robot who chatted with guests, a biomodelling exhibit for soft tissues with 3D printed limbs, and Nottingham Castle and campus tours delivered by VR headset. The Vice- Chancellor delivered her welcome speech via hologram, demonstrating one of the immersive technologies we are making accessible to local SMEs through the (LEADD:NG) project.
All elements of the event were designed to point to the pioneering collaboration which typifies the UfN project, as it brings together the combined strength of Nottingham’s two world-class universities for the benefit of our place, people, and communities.

The event showed how research and innovation at our universities feed into the local and national business ecosystem, and demonstrated our partnership work. Post-event feedback praised the event content - using words like engaging and fascinating’. Guests left the event feeling ‘uplifted’.