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Community

Culture

De Montfort University is a vibrant, dynamic and outgoing institution committed to excellence, diversity and the communities it serves.

A key part of its identity is the ownership and promotion of a cultural policy which seeks to: 

  • Empower and engage all its consultants, students, academics and other staff
  • Engage the interests of the stakeholders of the university in the wider sphere
  • Serve communities of which it is a part, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally
  • Provide opportunities for cultural activity and performance
  • Create ambassadors for the university and enrich the cultural life of the university in all its aspects

The university plan is informed by both internal and external contexts and the needs of its stakeholders.

  • A university is itself an institution that encourages an academic and intellectual philosophy based on challenging preconceptions and that fosters new ideas and practices. In this it reflects the questioning nature of art.
  • De Montfort University has its roots in a tradition of arts, crafts and creative endeavour stemming from the nineteenth century. This tradition evolved in Leicester Polytechnic and its forerunners, which established a record for excellence in areas of cultural innovation.
  • The university is currently uniquely situated in terms of its existing partnerships with key agencies engaged in the regional cultural initiatives.
  • Cultural activity directly contributes to social inclusion that is at the heart of the university's mission.
  • The creative industries make a key contribution to the national economy, currently valued at approximately 30 per cent of the GDP.

Outstanding outputs

The university has particular strengths in existing researchers, performers and students achieving work at the highest levels within their fields of cultural activity.

The university is itself a cultural provider through the performance and educational programmes of the Bowen West theatre which is recognised by East England Arts as a key strategic venue for the eastern region and through its exhibition spaces, galleries, studios and concert facilities.

This is supported by key strategic objectives which are to:

  • Promote a series of events throughout the academic year in music, visual art, literature, performance, film and new media as well as other areas. In all these cases, the aesthetic, cultural and stylistic concerns of the cultural programme will be inclusive, diverse and integrated to ensure wide appeal to all sections of the community.
  • Provide opportunities for student involvement in cultural activity both through performance and management that reflect their programmes of study and which provide opportunity to extend these.
  • Respond strategically to a variety of funding opportunities in partnership with other providers as appropriate. These might include national and European initiatives.
  • Develop research profiles through original performances, compositions, exhibitions etc in those areas where professional cultural practice is fully integrated with the academic agenda.
  • Develop meaningful partnerships with existing cultural providers; for example, the Phoenix, the Philharmonia, De Montfort Hall, Leicester City Council, East Midlands Arts, East England Arts, Bedfordshire County Council and other voluntary not for profit arts organisations.
  • Promote culture in all its aspects with confidence in the strength of diversity and innovation.
  • Create a vehicle for future development of the university in line with existing strategic priorities, for example to establish the university's corporate identity in the cities in which it is located.
  • Promote the university as a showcase for excellence in performance and other forms of cultural production (e.g. as in the cultural events week at Clephan).
  • Promote the distinctive cultural strengths of faculties and departments in a way which could also aid recruitment, for example as part of a wider schools strategy.
  • Utilise the existing staff expertise in areas of high quality cultural practice to support the corporate vision of the university and establish its role in its communities.
  • Through ongoing evaluation to demonstrate the place of the creative industries in a university, city and regional context and also to contribute to the current debate on culture and the community.

Religious activities on campus

This statement sets out the university’s code of practice on religious activities and practices on campus, and should be read as a form of guidance for students and staff.

Freedom of speech

This Code of Practice sets out the rights and obligations inherent within the principle of freedom of speech and shall be construed and applied in a spirit of upholding the principle of freedom of speech wherever reasonably possible within the existing legal framework.

External Speakers Policy

Executive Summary of External Speakers Policy - A Practical Guide 

External Speakers Request Form

Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom Policy

Forced marriages advice and guidance

If you are worried you might be forced into marriage or are worried about a friend or relative, then confidential advice and guidance is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Victims of Forced Marriage Unit. The Forced Marriage Unit can also be contacted by phone on +44 (0)207 008 0151.

Public interest disclosure

The Public Interest Disclosure policy is designed to comply with the Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, as amended and interpreted by the courts from time to time. The Act encourages workers to disclose information through appropriate internal channels and protects staff who raise concerns about malpractice as long as they satisfy conditions contained in the Act.

Staff appeals against dismissal to the Board of Governors

This procedure details the process for appealing against dismissal and the rights and responsibilities of employees who appeal.