SDG 11 - Sustainable cities and communities

SDG Goal icon - a building icon on yellow background

Community engagement is a key strategic aim and RGU is committed to contributing to the prosperity and health of the region by delivering initiatives and projects focused on promoting sustainable social and cultural development.

Our Mobile Art School, a custom-built van equipped with state-of-the-art creative tools and materials, delivers workshops across a range of art and design subject areas to school pupils.

RGU has also increased awareness of art and heritage with a digital tapestry project which used virtual technology to take 3D objects from our Art and Heritage Collections into the community.

Sport is a key driver for inspiring young people with our Streetsport initiative, run in partnership with Denis Law Legacy Trust, which has continued to deliver free sport and creative activity sessions throughout Aberdeen to reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviour while helping develop the employability and aspirations of youngsters.

RGU joined forces with charitable organisation Greyhope Bay to create a world-class marine experience centre in Aberdeen. Staff and students from the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture used repurposed shipping containers, finished with timber cladding to create an eco-friendly community facility for the Torry area with a dolphin viewing centre, café, education and community space. It opened in Spring 2022 providing a sustainable tourist, hospitality and local hub for the community in Aberdeen.

RGU runs the Grampian Community Law Centre from Torry Medical Practice and offers legal services to those on low incomes. It is first of its kind to be embedded in a medical practice and aims to tackle the root cause of issues which may be contributing to mental and physical health difficulties, something particularly essential during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

A brand-new Climate Clinic has also been launched and it is designed to provide support at grassroots level during the climate breakdown and biodiversity crisis and concentrating on matters from planning and development to the environment and animal law.

RGU’s Orkney Project is a clear commitment to extend the reach and impact of our research to remote communities. From its transformational research hub in Stromness the initiative aims to drive and support collaboration and innovation in tackling the challenges of island life. RGU Orkney’s research activities have been grouped into three broad clusters – smart islands, creative innovation and sustainable quality of life.