Public Affairs Standing Committee - Reports

PASC held its second meeting in the 2024-25 academic session on the 8 April 2025. The main item on the Agenda was a presentation from Gemma Gourlay, Head of Social Impact in the Department of Social Responsibility and Sustainability.  Arrangements had been made for Gemma to speak to the Committee about the latest draft of the University's Community Plan for 2025-30. Gemma has spoken to the Commitee on previous occasions and the aim was for her to provide an update since she last met the Committee in May 2024.

In giving her presentation of the latest draft of the Community Plan, Gemma detailed its development, the strategic aims, the consultation process involved and the next steps in the production of the Plan.  She stressed that the Plan was a continuation and evolution from existing frameworks and not a project starting from scratch, with the aim of building on the reported successes to date. These included community engagement through investments in social enterprises and various forms of experiential learning and community service performed by students.  Other highlights included the social and scientific impact activities such as medical research and health innovation taking place at the Bio Quarter, and programmes centred around inclusivity and collaboration at the Edinburgh Futures Institute and the Usher building which are designed to be accessible to the public.  Further detail of the progress made can be found in the following link:  www.local.ed.ac.uk/what-we-did-year-four.

Gemma identified three key priorities for action in going forward:

1. Partnering for positive social impact - supporting communities through volunteering, community-led research, student projects and placements and helping to address poverty.
2. Promoting equalities now and in the future - improving community benefits; health and social care, housing and employability.
3. Thriving communities - promoting wellbeing, volunteering, student projects and placements and health ad social care.

Committee members raised questions that led to discussions about the impact of the financial pressures that are facing the University and the resources available to implement the Plan; the link with the 'Town and Gown' relationship; and the communication plans for the launch of the Community Plan to the local community. The potential pro bono support from the significant number of General Council members based in the local area was also raised. 

Gemma was thanked for her excellent and comprehensive presentation and she was invited to address the Committee regarding progress with the Community Plan and its future launch. 

The remainder of the meeting of PASC focused on a discussion of the Summer Billet which is in the final stages for production and a proposal to produce short videos to raise awareness of and interest in General Council activities and encourage increased attendance at the Half Yearly Meetings.

As the time available did not allow for discussion of other items on the Agenda, it was agreed to hold an additional meeting of PASC and this has been arranged for 8 May.

In the meantime, preparations for the planned visit to the Usher Institute event on 22 May are going well and we look forward to welcoming members to this event.   

Professor Alice Brown

Convener, PASC