ESSEX University has been named one of the best in the country for engaging with the community and helping to generate regeneration.

A Government report shows the university is in the top ten per cent of higher education facilities for its work with the public and in the top 20 per cent for its community engagement.

Essex University contributes more than £500 million to the regional economy every year and puts its research into action to inform debates around policy development.

Dr Rob Singh, director of Essex University’s research and enterprise office, said: “Benefiting society through our research is part of the DNA of the university and we have been working hard to establish an even wider range of connections to business and the public sector over the past few years.

“As a result, our collaborative research income has more than doubled in the last four years and the work this has supported is positively impacting the regional and national economy.”

Key public engagement achievements include an extensive programme of student volunteering.

In 2018 and 2019, the Students’ Union volunteer team worked 36,000 hours through 110 projects, working with 70 organisations.

The university also provides services such as its law clinic, which provides free, confidential legal advice and the Human Rights Centre’s outreach programme.

Professor Chris Greer, pro-vice-chancellor for research at Essex, said: “Knowledge exchange and the impact it generates have always been integral to research at Essex. It is in partnership with others that our research is at its most transformational.”