External engagement
Oxford’s external engagement connects research, education and partnership across local, national and global contexts. Working with diverse partners, the University brings knowledge and collaboration together to address shared challenges and create meaningful, real-world impact.
Oxford’s approach to external engagement brings together research, education and partnership to support collaboration and create opportunities across society.
Working locally, nationally and globally, the University collaborates with a wide range of partners, including governments, businesses, community organisations, schools, cultural institutions, and international networks. These relationships are shaped by a commitment to co-creation, ensuring that knowledge, expertise and lived experience come together to inform meaningful and lasting impact.
External engagement at Oxford is not a single programme or initiative. It is a connected portfolio of activity that spans educational outreach, policy engagement, collaborative research, innovation, cultural exchange and community partnership. Across the collegiate University, departments, divisions and colleges contribute to this work in different ways, reflecting the breadth and diversity of Oxford’s expertise.
Together, these activities form a wider picture of how Oxford works beyond the University, connecting people, ideas and institutions through partnership.
“External engagement is about working in partnership, locally, nationally and globally, to connect knowledge with real-world challenges and create impact that extends beyond the University.”
At a local level, partnerships support opportunity, wellbeing and shared learning across Oxfordshire and the surrounding region. Nationally, the University works with policymakers, public services and partners across the UK to inform decision-making and contribute to economic and social development. Globally, Oxford engages with international partners to address major challenges such as climate change, global health and inequality.
This work is underpinned by the University’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030 and its focus on leading through partnership, using Oxford’s convening power and research excellence to contribute to the public good.
Explore how Oxford works with partners at different levels through the pages below.
Oxford in the World
A connected portfolio of partnerships, research and collaboration across communities, sectors and countries, showing how engagement across the University creates impact beyond its boundaries.