What we did in year four

Progress we have made as a University in the fourth year of the Community Plan, from the period November 2023 until October 2024.

Introduction from Gemma Gourlay, Head of Social Impact

As we mark the fourth year of our five-year Community Plan, I’m proud to share our progress and ongoing commitments to fostering meaningful connections and positive change. This report captures the strides we’ve made across our 32 commitments, reflecting the shared effort and dedication of our teams, partners, and community stakeholders. 

Highlights of this year include our growing engagement with schools at the BioQuarter, where we continue to inspire future generations through science and discovery. We’ve also made progress on the University’s Race Review, including an insightful interview with one of the team members driving this essential work. 

Additionally, we’ve celebrated the opening of key buildings that are open to the public, such as the Edinburgh Futures Institute and the Usher Building at the BioQuarter, which exemplify our commitment to spaces that bring people and ideas together. 

I encourage you to explore the five case studies included in this report, which illustrate the tangible impact of our work and the transformative stories behind the numbers. While we still have more to achieve, this year’s progress reaffirms the power of collaboration in creating a shared future. We’re excited as we deliver the final year of our existing plan in 2025.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together toward the goals set out in our Community Plan. 

Gemma Gourlay headshot
Year 4 Community Plan reporting infographic: We’re four years through our Community Plan… how are we doing? 32 commitments: 27 great progress, 5 getting there.
We’re four years through our Community Plan… how are we doing? 32 commitments: 27 great progress, 5 getting there.
Ren Hooi, founder and CEO of Lightning Reach

Our investments in social enterprises and organisations are sparking positive change for people across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland Region, while colleagues at Edinburgh Innovations are nurturing the next generation of social entrepreneurs.

Dirty Weekenders society volunteering at Lauriston Farm, March 2024 Planting trees and making fences.

Students volunteered throughout the year to support local efforts, including for: nature, those in emergency housing, and refugees. Staff have also been out volunteering in force. Students collaborated with local communities through dissertations and coursework.

Samantha Likonde headshot

Hear directly from Samantha Likonde on the community engagement that has taken place in 2024 with local communities as part of the Decolonised Transformations project.

Internship

Edinburgh BioQuarter is a leading hub for healthcare delivery, medical research, and health innovation and has embarked upon a journey to connect with its neighbouring communities in South Edinburgh. Central to this vision is a commitment to work with local communities to address social challenges and deliver inclusive growth across the area.

We have made good progress in opening our estates to communities, designing spaces like the Edinburgh Futures Institute and the Usher Building to enable inclusivity, sustainability, and collaboration.

Progress we made in the first three years since publishing the Community Plan.