Kingston University and Royal Borough of Kingston showcase strength of partnership at Collaboration event

Kingston University and the Royal Borough of Kingston (RBK) hosted a Collaboration Showcase at Kingston Guildhall, bringing together nearly 75 staff from both organisations to celebrate existing partnership work and explore new opportunities for the borough.

The event highlighted the breadth of activity already taking place between the University and the Council and gave staff the chance to identify new areas for joint working across five key themes. Conversations and future collaboration opportunities were discussed around the themes of the future of work, digital and health, creative industries, domestic security and student engagement.

Celebrating a long-standing partnership

One of the main strands running through the showcase was the strength of the long-standing relationship between Kingston University and RBK, and the positive impact this collaboration continues to have on local communities, services and businesses.

Professor Debra Gray, director of the University’s KERI Behaviour, Business and Policy Knowledge Exchange Research Institute said the showcase demonstrated the value of bringing expertise together in a more connected, practical and collaborative way to tackle complex challenges grounded in real-world need. “By building collaborations across disciplines, across faculties, and with partners such as the Royal Borough of Kingston, we are making it easier for organisations like RBK to access the knowledge, creativity and problem-solving capacity that exists at Kingston University,” she said.

Participants shared updates on successful collaborative projects already underway and worked together to identify future opportunities aligned to local priorities. Good practice was also highlighted with ongoing collaborative projects such as the Practice Placements and Internships Partnership, which provides Kingston University social work students with valuable placement opportunities within RBK Adult Social Care services. 

Another example spoken about at the event was the Digital Public Health Campaign Evaluation which saw academics at Kingston University assess the effectiveness of RBK public health campaigns to help improve engagement with local communities.

Inside the event

Attendees saw a series of short presentations showcasing collaborative projects already delivering results for the borough, before taking part in a networking session structured around the event's five key themes. Supported by collaboration posters and ideas boards, participants were encouraged to post their own ideas for future collaborations and the challenges they would like to see addressed.

Matthew Essex, Director of Place at RBK said events like the showcase helped to break down barriers and build stronger local relationships between teams. “As two of the borough's main anchor institutions our organisations have a strategic stake in the future of Kingston, but as large organisations we are complex and not always easy to navigate,” he said.

“Collaboration can take many forms, but what is clear is that we can have greater impact by working together and using the world class expertise on our doorstep for the benefit of our residents, communities and businesses."

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