Impact of Cardiff University Community Engagement Highlighted at Times Higher Education Awards

The universities in the UK are no longer evaluated in terms of teaching and research quality but also on the basis of their collaboration with the surrounding community. The Times Higher Education Awards are one of the most distinguished awards in the sector of higher education and can well be called the “Oscars of universities” as they award initiatives that have made a difference to the surrounding community.

In light of these challenges, Cardiff University’s community partnership scheme is also cited as an example with a sustainable long‑term effect that has been achieved in the Grangetown region of Cardiff, a multicultural region. In the Community Gateway scheme, Cardiff University, through a partnership with Grange Pavilion CIO and Grange Pavilion Youth Forum, has managed to develop a relationship with the community for more than a decade.

This partnership has been recently highlighted at the Times Higher Education Awards 2025, where this nomination has been highly commended for the award of the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community. This recognition highlights the impact of collaborative working between a university and surrounding communities on university and community life. The award recognises ten years of activity in the Grangetown area, where the partnership has developed the balance of the relationship with the local community, creating equality between the university and the residents of Grangetown.

Project Lead of Community Gateway, Mhairi McVicar, professor at the Welsh School of Architecture, further explained that the group is happy that their collective hard work has been recognised. She further commented that the award acknowledges the work that has been done collectively by them and their partners from the community, an aspect that is reflected by the collaboration that is affiliated with the award and the ten successful years of partnerships in Grangetown.

In the past ten years, Community Gateway has supported in excess of 90 projects by prioritising the views and expertise of local communities. Among the accomplishments cited within the Times Higher Education Awards community project submission are:

• Thriving and popular community‑run resources where people from the community and from the university can explore their interests and evaluate their social innovation ideas.

• Enhanced links between students and the communities in Cardiff, fostering them as caring contributors.

• Evidence of communities impacting university strategy and policy decisions.

• Expansion in challenge‑driven and co‑produced research in local communities.

• Increased sense of belonging, ownership, and civic engagement in Grangetown.

• The mobilisation of young leaders through the Grange Pavilion Youth Forum partnership award.

Professor Wendy Larner, the Vice‑Chancellor of Cardiff University, said that “What was so interesting and has obviously captured everyone’s imagination is that it is an authentic project that has built trust by being there and working in partnership.” In other words, academics at Cardiff University have proved their worth by being seen regularly and contributing positively towards both their own and the community’s benefit, thereby earning their trust. This is indeed an honour for Cardiff University and the communities it provides service to in Wales.

The award at the Times Higher Education Awards is a clear example of how university‑community engagement at Cardiff can make a difference. The involvement of the community in this particular project is a model for transformative partnership work at a long‑term university and community level, as seen in Grangetown.

Editor’s Note:

The Times Higher Education Awards 2025 recognition for the Cardiff University Community Gateway partnership is quite an achievement for the institution. This is an indication that higher education institutions are now evaluated not only on their teaching and research aspects but also on their collaboration with the communities surrounding the institutions. The award is highly commended under the category of Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community. It is evident from Grangetown that collective work over a period of time results in positive changes. For the past decade, Cardiff University, in partnership with Grange Pavilion CIO and Grange Pavilion Youth Forum, has contributed towards more than 90 projects. It has increased trust and ensured equality between the university and residents. Many social, cultural, and economic advantages have been achieved. It has also contributed towards decision-making in universities and co‑production in research. This recognition is significant since it proves that the university can serve as an anchor in the community. By taking the time to listen and work alongside the community, Cardiff University has built an exemplary model of community engagement. The award at the THE Awards proves that this is an activity that is recognised and valued at the national level.

To put this another way, this award is not just about recognising one project. It is about showing that higher education can, over time, make a difference in people and places when and where it invests in individuals and in shared agendas. Skoobuzz believes that the success of the Cardiff University experience in Grangetown demonstrates that true collaboration helps create mutual benefit for both the university and the broader community.

FAQs

1.What is Cardiff University ranked in the UK?

Cardiff University is ranked 22nd in the Complete University Guide 2026, 28th in The Times and Sunday Times Guide, and 37th in the Guardian University Guide. It is the highest‑ranked university in Wales.

2.Is Cardiff University hard to get into?

Cardiff University is competitive but not the hardest. The estimated acceptance rate is about 44%, meaning nearly half of the applicants are admitted. Strong grades and a good personal statement are important.

3.How much is the tuition fee at Cardiff University?

For home students, tuition fees are usually £9,000–£9,250 per year. For international students, fees are higher and vary by course, often ranging from £18,000 to £25,000 per year.

4.Is Cardiff a Tier 1 university?

Cardiff University is part of the Russell Group, which represents the UK’s leading research universities. This status is often described as Tier 1, showing Cardiff’s strong reputation for research and teaching.

5.What’s the easiest university to get into in the UK?

The easiest universities to get into are those with lower entry requirements. Examples include Staffordshire University, Bedfordshire University, and Leeds Trinity University, which admit a high percentage of applicants.