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External Relations

Our community

Our community connectivity is felt at an institutional, local, national, and international level. Where academic, educational and engagement activities work to regenerate, innovate and promote equity.

Our community
  1. External Relations
  2. Our support
  3. Content, brand and design
  4. Copywriting toolkit
  5. Key facts and stats
  6. Community engagement excellence

Distinctive, transformative community engagement – locally, nationally and globally  

We have a proud and distinctive history built on four historic institutions stretching back to 1785 and beyond. St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College, London Hospital Medical College, Westfield College and Queen Mary College were each founded to improve the lives of people and provide opportunity.

Since then, our work in this sphere has continued. For example, we are a founding partner of the National Civic University Network, recognised as the most inclusive Russell Group university,  and the first to receive a National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement platinum watermark.    

These community-driven strengths are underscored by our innovation in research and teaching, and our engagement activity evidences our ongoing commitment to public benefit - improving lives locally, nationally, and internationally.   

Excellence in community engagement by numbers

  • We were the first university to receive the platinum watermark in public engagement (2021). 
  • 2019 analysis showed that we supported 11,500 FTE jobs excluding the wider impact of skills, innovation and enterprise generation.  
  • Queen Mary supported an estimated £560m economic impact in London (£760m across UK).   
  • 2019 analysis showed that we supported 11,500 FTE jobs excluding the wider impact of skills, innovation and enterprise generation. 
  • In the 2025 Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF5) results, we maintained the highest possible score for the categories 'IP and commercialisation, 'research partnerships' and 'public and community engagement'.
  • In 2022, Queen Mary launched our first Civic University Agreement, developed through a process of consultation and co-analysis with our East London communities. 

Knowledge Exchange Framework

  • In the 2025 Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF5) results, we maintained the highest possible score for the categories 'IP and commercialisation, 'research partnerships' and 'public and community engagement'.
  • We also significantly improved our scores in  ‘continuing professional development and graduate start-ups perspective’, thanks to strategic investments made by the University in these areas.  
  • Our results demonstrate our continuing strength in sharing knowledge, ideas and experience for local, national and global economic and social benefit.

Find out more about our KEF case studies.

Best-in-class community engagement

We are proud to be an institution committed to being connected to our local community.
Best-in-class community engagement

Our economic impact

A breakdown of how Queen Mary’s economic and civic impact is felt UK-wide. 
Our economic impact

Page last updated on 22/10/25.

Have you spotted an error, or missing information? Please email content@qmul.ac.uk.

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