The ACE Guide to Forming University-Community Alliances is a practical resource for universities, higher education staff and community organisations that want to build stronger, more sustainable partnerships. It starts from a simple principle: community engagement works best when it creates real value for everyone involved. Universities can contribute research, expertise, students and institutional resources, while community partners bring lived experience, local knowledge and a clear understanding of local needs.
The Guide is designed to help organisations move from an initial idea towards a functioning alliance. It focuses on building a shared purpose, agreeing how partners will work together, involving community organisations in meaningful ways and creating the conditions for long-term collaboration rather than one-off engagement.
