At Swansea University, we believe that positive change begins with people and place. The Local Challenges Research Office (LCRO) strengthens the University’s civic mission by embedding community voice at the heart of research, policy, and practice.
We build meaningful connections with communities across South and West Wales, turning local knowledge and ideas into opportunities for sustainable, inclusive change. Through principled co-creation, relational practice, and place-based collaboration, we bring together diverse forms of expertise to address real-world challenges and create a more equitable research ecosystem.
Our mission is to ensure that research not only reflects the needs and aspirations of our communities but also empowers them to shape a better future for Wales and beyond.
The Local Challenges Research Office at Swansea University has been invaluable in helping us articulate the issues we face, framing the policy intervention and suggesting, in partnership with Swansea University, a practical and robust way forward. They quickly understand the points at issue, are empathetic to the constraints we face as an organisation and show incredible knowledge in order to guide us to those within the University who are best able to provide comprehensive academic advice. They have shown great skill in their ability to frame the challenges we face in a way that can be answered by colleagues within the University. I would highly recommend LCRO at Swansea University to any public body or indeed any community themselves who seek to navigate their way through choppy policy waters’ – Jonathan Morris, Strategic Development Manager, Tai Tarian
The Local Challenges Research Office has been absolutely instrumental and incredibly useful to provide this enabling role. The presence of devoted, active and motivated colleagues, easy to work with and agile and result-oriented in their working style has made the work towards transforming my research into real impact a joy. – Annie Tubadji, Senior Lecturer, Swansea University