Public Engagement - Higher Education-Business and Community Interaction survey (HE-BCI)

The annual HE-BCI survey examines the exchange of knowledge between universities and the wider world, and informs the strategic direction of "knowledge exchange" activity which funding bodies and higher education institutions (HEIs) undertake. The university's funding for knowledge exchange activities is based on our annual HE-BCI return to the Scottish Funding Council.

Please include lectures and seminars that are open to the public, but exclude open days, Student Union activity, simple trading activity and commercially operated conferences. Activities held on campus as well as elsewhere in the UK or abroad should be included.

Public lectures: include lectures or talks held in University of Edinburgh buildings that are open to the public (lectures held in an external venue should be categorised as “other”). Inaugural lectures should be included. Academic staff time should only be included for the event itself. Time committed to the preparation of the event should not be included.

Performance arts (music, dance, drama, etc.): include performances of music, dance, and the dramatic arts at University of Edinburgh venues. Staff time is only for the event itself, and not time committed to preparation.

Exhibitions (galleries, museums, etc.): include permanent and temporary exhibitions held at museums and galleries owned by the University of Edinburgh (exhibitions at external venues should be categorised as “other”). Staff time is only for the event itself, and not time committed to the preparation of the event. The attendee figure reported should reflect those who visited or interacted with the specific exhibition and not the total number of venue visitors.

Museum education: include all forms of museum education held at museums and galleries owned by the University of Edinburgh including lectures, workshops and children's clubs (activities held in other museums should be categorised as “other”). Staff time is only for the event itself, and not time committed to the preparation of the event.  

Other: include all events that take place off campus, and alternative public events that cannot be categorised as above. “Other” events will include festival engagement and school engagement (that are not student recruitment activities). This can include viewing and listening figures for television and radio programmes produced by the University, and downloads from University websites.

Free or charged event

Only academic staff time can be included. Time spent delivering activities by PhD students and professional services staff should not be included. When academic staff did not lead or facilitate at the event, you should return the number of attendees for the event, but put a staff time of zero.

Only time spend delivering activities (not preparing them) should be included.

The University recognises the vital importance of our students and professional services colleagues in delivering high-quality public engagement, this is HESA guidance and not a reflection of the University’s view. We also understand that far more time is dedicated to preparing for events than in delivery and appreciate the efforts of all our colleagues in engaging with publics.

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