UCL is one of Camden’s largest institutions – with over 40,000 students and 13,000 staff. As one of the world’s leading research universities, UCL has a great deal to offer local people who want to make a difference by sharing its academic expertise.
In partnership with local communities, University College London (UCL) is running hackathons to solve problems and develop solutions for issues like climate change with UCL students and Camden communities.
Listen and Respond group
As well as this, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university established the UCL Listen and Respond working group to connect Camden’s third sector and community organisations to academic experts to help local organisations to better understand and respond to local needs and circumstances, evaluate what’s working, and influence public policy.
With this in mind, a team of UCL’s Sustainability Ambassadors will now be working with Think & Do Camden and Camden Council’s sustainability team.
Social hackathons
These hackathons pair students with problem-solving and solution-creating events that give UCL volunteers a first-hand insight into the third sector. UCL has shared its process for running a successful social hackathon and is keen to hear from the community about future hackathons it could potentially support.
“At UCL we are committed to being a publicly engaged university, whilst making a difference to our place in London and to Londoners themselves,”
says Professor Alan Thompson, UCL’s Pro-Vice-Provost for London.
UCL already has staff and students working on topics that align with the shared missions and areas of interest to local communities in London. Professor Thompson believes that many will appreciate the opportunity to bring theory and practice together by working with community projects in Camden.
Photo credits: University College London
Find out more about setting up a hackathon
If you would like to find out more about Hackathons, or how to set one up, you can find out more here
