On the 13th January 2026, the Vice Chancellors of the universities of Brighton, Chichester and Sussex welcomed in the new year to sign the first ever Civic University Agreement (CUA) for the region. It was titled, ‘Sustainable, Connected, and Equitable Sussex’. Brighton University hailed it as “a joint commitment by senior leaders… to share resources and work in partnership with three universities to help drive positive change across the region”. The agreement was signed in collaboration with local authorities and public services across Sussex, including Brighton and Hove Albion FC, Sussex Police, and NHS Sussex.
The agreement outlined three priorities for its civic mission: the first being the environment and responding to the climate emergency; the second, support for high-quality education, including students’ physical health and mental well-being; and the third and final priority, culture, by supporting the creative sector.
In this edition of The Badger, we have secured an interview with the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Sussex, who was instrumental in advancing the CUA’s priorities. This interview sheds light on the purpose and practical outcomes of the CUA, but what does this really mean for students? And how can we get involved?
The published CUA policy outlines different approaches to how the institutions want to bring about change.
Most of the language included in the document is quite ‘fluffy’ with few tangible actions for students to hold leaders to account. For instance, they emphasise “high-quality education” and “evidence-based strategies for behaviour change”; however, they go into little detail on what these strategies may be or how they plan to implement them.
They also plan to tackle social inequalities by using “inclusive and socially just practices” to provide educational opportunities that “attract domestic and international students”. Again, students have very little to go on here.
Despite the lack of clarity, the CUA leaders have listed ways in which they hope citizens will get involved with their projects to better the lives of everyone in Sussex: “Staff, students and community members are encouraged to contribute to ongoing initiatives through volunteering, mentoring, or sharing specialist knowledge”, and leaders even encourage people to share their ideas for collaborative projects that align with “our shared mission”.
Based on these priorities, there are a few ways in which the CUA acts as a framework for student experience and engagement:
Employability and local impact
The CUA connects learning to regional needs, potentially creating opportunities for applied learning to local challenges. Presumably, with Brighton and Chichester now being linked to Sussex, more learning opportunities could arise across these institutions.
Volunteering
Students are encouraged to volunteer and contribute to joint initiatives, even by joining the mailing list.
Sustainability
There is a real focus on the climate emergency and promoting environmental sustainability. The CUA encourages student support and engagement on this. Perhaps those studying relevant courses will be included in the development of sustainability plans.
Health and Mental Well-being
This is a big area – but also one with little clarity! The Badger reached out to Sussex NHS for a comment on University health centres and how students may be affected. Following this, we were referred back to the original CUA document, which provides little information on mental and physical health services and how they may be adapted or improved, but we can see that something may be in the works here!
Engagement
Ultimately, the CUA is a connection project, aiming to connect students and civilians with local partners such as the NHS or Sussex Police. Bexhill College expressed its excitement about the opportunity for more internships and placements available to students through its collaborative partners.
Keep reading to find out more about the CUA and hear from Sussex’s Pro Vice-Chancellor on what the CUA has to offer students.
The institutions ask that anyone with an interest should email publicaffairs@sussex.ac.uk to suggest a project or to be added to the mailing list for newsletters and updates.
Another article you may enjoy – https://thebadgeronline.com/2026/04/how-west-slope-development-will-allow-students-to-thrive-throughout-their-studies/
