ACE – the Alliance for Community Engagement in European Higher Education – is dedicated to addressing the growing need for more structured, strategic and meaningful community engagement across universities in Europe.
Higher education institutions are increasingly being called upon to contribute to social cohesion, sustainability and inclusion. Whether through partnerships with local authorities, civil society groups, or grassroots organisations, the university’s role in the wider community is expanding. However, while many staff are eager to engage, there is a clear lack of support, training and recognition to help them do so effectively.
The project supports them to work more strategically, share knowledge, and build stronger networks. It also offers a suite of practical resources, including:
The project brings together partners from Poland, Denmark, Estonia, Serbia, Germany and Ireland. Each organisation contributes expertise in community development, higher education, digital learning, and training delivery.
Together, we aim to make engagement easier, more impactful, and more integrated into university systems – ultimately strengthening the role of higher education in building fairer and more resilient societies.
Community engagement is no longer optional for universities – it is essential. Societal challenges are becoming more urgent and complex, and universities are uniquely positioned to be part of the solution. Whether supporting regional development, partnering with schools and NGOs, or responding to crises, universities must be able to engage effectively and meaningfully.
Yet across Europe, engagement work is often invisible, unsupported, or isolated within institutions. ACE aims to change that by helping universities move from informal, ad-hoc engagement to a more strategic, forward-thinking model – one that values community relationships, builds internal capacity, and delivers long-term benefits for both the university and society.
By creating a digital platform, a practical toolkit, and an adaptable training model, ACE supports a new generation of engaged staff – professionals who can embed community collaboration into the core of university life.
ACE is designed to support a range of key groups working at the intersection of higher education and community development:
Our primary focus is staff responsible for public engagement, outreach, partnerships and social responsibility. These are the people working directly with local stakeholders, often without formal support. ACE offers them tools, training and a community of peers to help strengthen and grow their work.
University leaders and policymakers play a crucial role in embedding engagement into institutional strategy. ACE supports this through insights from strategic foresight analysis, peer examples, and good practices that can be adapted at scale.
Engagement is also a learning opportunity. Through training activities and platform participation, students and early-career staff can gain valuable experience in working collaboratively with external partners on social impact projects.
We actively involve community partners, local authorities and civil society groups to ensure engagement efforts are grounded in real needs. Their input shapes our resources, and their participation ensures that engagement is not only about universities but about mutual benefit