Civic University

This Civic Networking Event invites community members, local organisations, and University staff and students to engage in an open conversation about equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Ebi Sosseh, Head of Equity, Wellbeing and Inclusion at the University of Portsmouth, will share updates on the University’s EDI initiatives, including projects like Athena SWAN and ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their perspectives, experiences, and ideas on fostering a stronger sense of belonging in the University and local community. The event is a chance to connect, listen, and collaborate to make Portsmouth a more equitable and inclusive place for all.

Book here. 

The University of Portsmouth, in collaboration with Making Waves Film Festival, Portsmouth City of Sanctuary (PCoS), and Action Asylum, is hosting a unique Iranian-themed cinematic dining event—an evening of film, food, and culture aimed at fostering community engagement and refugee inclusion.

This fundraising event for Portsmouth City of Sanctuary will feature a screening of the award-winning Iranian film My Favourite Cake, alongside an authentic Persian feast, live traditional Iranian music, and immersive décor inspired by Iranian gardens.

Guests will experience a carefully curated Persian menu prepared by Taarof chefs Soraya Hatami and Damon Hall, with support from Iranian cooks from PCoS' Kitchen of Hope and Action Asylum volunteers. Dishes include:
🍆 Kashk-e Bademjan (Persian aubergine dip)
🍚 Persian jewelled rice
🥘 Gheymeh (slow-cooked stew with split peas)
🌿 Saffron and rose iced tea, lime & mint cordial

Beyond the culinary delights, this event serves as a cultural bridge, bringing people together through storytelling, music, and shared experiences, while raising awareness of the importance of refugee inclusion.

See here for more information 

This interactive seminar explores how the Prosocial Matrix, a practical tool rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), can help individuals and teams communicate more effectively, navigate challenges, and build stronger relationships. Led by Sue Knight, this session will introduce self-awareness techniques, shared values exploration, and strategies to foster trust and collaboration in workplaces, communities, and personal relationships.

📍 Location: Oasis Centre, Portsmouth
📅 Date: Thursday, 3 April 2025
⏰ Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Networking from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)

This event is part of the Relational and Restorative Practice Community of Inquiry Group.

Book here

 Healthy Conversations & Making Every Contact Count in Portsmouth

Date: Thursday 1st May

Time: 9.30am - 11.30am (venue open from 9am - 12noon for extra coffee/networking)

Location: Oasis Centre, Arundel Street, Portsmouth, PO1 1NP

Rob Anderson-Weaver is a Public Health Workforce Development Lead at Portsmouth City Council, apart from the long title, Rob also has a huge interest in learning & development, simplifying behavioural science and helping people get the best out of their interactions with people they support.

In 2024 Rob worked with 100's of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and professions in the city - all unified in a desire or need to 'help' Using Healthy Conversation Skills and Making Every Contact Count to deliver person centred, and relational practice regardless of the setting.

Join Rob to hear about the growth of Healthy Conversation Skills in Portsmouth, how we can demystify the art of 'helping' others and some practical practice examples from around the City.

Learning outcomes

• Learn and understand the Healthy Conversation Skills philosophy
• Learn techniques to get people talking about health & wellbeing
• Learn SMARTER system for achieving sustainable change
• Learn how your organisation can support relational practice with the training

Who Should Attend?

This session is for anyone who wants to communicate better, work more effectively with others, or build stronger relationships, whether at work, in the community, or in personal life. If you're looking for ways to handle tricky conversations, strengthen teamwork, and create positive connections, this workshop will give you hands-on tools to do just that.

Portsmouth Mediation Service are supporting us with discounted use of their facilities, tea and coffee, and an excellent snack selection!

If you have any questions about this event, please contact civicuniversity@port.ac.uk

This seminar is hosted by the Relational and Restorative Practice Community of Inquiry Group. There are always a variety of interesting people attending and it's a great way to connect with others.

Book here

CEISR Annual Lecture 2025: ‘What is internalised oppression and why should we care?’ – Join Professor Monica Moreno Figueroa (University of Cambridge) on Wednesday 14 May, 4pm–6pm, as she explores internalised oppression, how it links personal and structural experiences, and its impact on relationships and social hierarchies. The lecture will also introduce The Structure Within, a public campaign addressing these issues.

🎟 Register here

Dr Lisa Sugiura and Professor Peter Lee from the University of Portsmouth will focus on staff safety and wellbeing in the presence of trauma. Lisa and Pete have both experienced trauma in the course of their work and endeavour to prepare others for the unpredictable and complex responses that
individuals may experience in either work or everyday life. Lisa’s research on online gender-based violence has involved her immersion in deeply misogynistic and discriminatory web spaces, interacting with extremist groups, and supporting victim-survivors of domestic abuse and sexual
violence. Pete has been a military chaplain during war time, undertaken field work with RAF military drone crews as they conducted surveillance and lethal strikes, and surveyed the mental health and wellbeing of police child sex crime investigators. Their aim for this session is to raise awareness of vicarious trauma (whether disclosed or undisclosed) and its impact on staff wellbeing, through the sharing of personal experiences.

The Portsmouth City Libraries Tuk Tuk will be bringing wellbeing literature and feel-good fiction to the Feel Good Fest on 13th March. Stop by to explore a range of books aimed at boosting your mood and supporting mental wellbeing. Public Library membership can also be applied for directly through the Tuk Tuk staff, with a member of the library team on hand to assist.

A stunning photography exhibition by University of Portsmouth alumnus and travel photographer Md Abdulla Al Mamun, capturing moments where humans, animals, and nature coexist in urban spaces. Featuring images from Dhaka, London, and Istanbul, the exhibition highlights the delicate balance between city life and the natural world.

📍 Now showing in the University Library until 13 March 2025, with plans to reinstall after Global Week. Open to the public during staffed reception hours with ID.

🎥 Watch the exhibition videos:
📹 About the exhibition (1 min 49 sec): https://youtu.be/JHuWnEkyjVY?si=a_m1WJiJ2lT8ytXO
📹 Short introduction (33 sec): https://youtu.be/ohPHofDSLRA?si=T_BxrglsuOUcuXYp 

Part of the Life Solved Live series, this Inaugural Lecture event showcases two newly promoted professors sharing how their research tackles major questions in physics and decision-making. Professor Tessa Baker explores how gravitational waves—ripples in spacetime caused by merging black holes—could challenge our understanding of gravity and cosmology. Professor Banu Lokman delves into multi-objective optimisation, a decision-making tool that helps organisations balance competing priorities in fields like healthcare, energy, and logistics. This double-bill lecture offers a unique insight into cutting-edge research that influences both our understanding of the Universe and real-world business challenges.

Book here

Aspire Together is a half-day conference hosted by the Female Entrepreneurs Network (FEN) at the University of Portsmouth, celebrating International Women's Day by supporting and empowering women in business. The event features inspiring speakers, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities to help women entrepreneurs enhance their business skills and connections. Attendees can participate in expert-led workshops on topics such as defining business vision, social media engagement, and securing funding. The event provides a space for female founders, freelancers, and aspiring entrepreneurs to learn, connect, and grow their businesses.

Book here

Elle is a Clinical Associate Psychologist for Solent NHS Trust. Her research on self-compassion highlights how this misunderstood skill is crucial for health, performance, and relationships. Interventions that raise levels of self-compassion demonstrate improvements in many areas of life, including workplaces, and even elite athlete and footballer performance. Berating ourselves is a natural response to mistakes, but such a response can cause you to miss learning opportunities. The more self-compassionate you are, the faster you recover from failure and take the learning forward. Elle's talk will give an overview of evidence for the intervention, her current research in the application of Mindful Self-Compassion for NHS staff burnout, and an opportunity to try an experiential MSC practice.

Book here

Part of the Life Solved Live series, this Inaugural Lecture by Professor George Burrows explores how music engages with race, class, gender, and sexuality to shape identity and social values. Covering works from Fats Waller’s London Suite to Handel’s Messiah and Me and My Girl, Professor Burrows reveals how music reflects and influences the politics of its time. The event features live performances from the University of Portsmouth Choir, bringing these themes to life. Life Solved Live showcases world-changing research and celebrates newly promoted professors, offering insight into how academic work impacts society.

Book here

We are excited to share details of an upcoming event celebrating International Women’s Day 2025, hosted by Little Kanga Ltd. The event aims to inspire the next generation of female leaders across sport, politics, technology, business, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).

Date & Time:
Wednesday, 5th March 2025 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: Portsmouth Marriott Hotel, Southampton Road, Portsmouth, PO6 4SH

Event Highlights:

• Fireside Chat with Olivia Breen, Para-athlete and BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year, Amanda Martin MP, and Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner.
• Panel Discussions focusing on leadership in male-dominated industries.
• Networking opportunities with industry leaders and role models.
• Support for The Girls Network: All donations will go to this organisation, which mentors girls from underprivileged backgrounds.

Who Should Attend?

• Women looking for career inspiration
• Young women and girls exploring career paths in STEAM and leadership
• Allies who support gender equality in the workplace
• Education providers, schools, and colleges

Registration:
The event is free to attend, though a voluntary donation to The Girls Network is encouraged to help support their mentorship programs.

This event is organised by Little Kanga Ltd in partnership with University of Portsmouth Business School, STR Recruitment, Desk2Educate, The Girls Network, and more.

Register Now to secure your place at this inspiring event that celebrates the achievements of women and aims to empower future generations!

Portsmouth South Coast Business Week 2025 – A week-long celebration of the local business community, featuring free events, networking opportunities, and expert discussions from 24–28 February. The programme includes talks on property, employment law, funding, creativity, and culture, as well as a Business Expo, networking on the Mary Rose, and company tours. The University of Portsmouth is actively involved, hosting legal advice clinics, financial success workshops, and insights into alternative recruitment initiatives.

📍 Find out more & register: portsmouth.southcoastbusinessweek.co.uk 

Celebrate reading and creativity at the Portsmouth Public Library Bookfest! Running from 18th February to 19th March, the event will feature a wide range of books and activities for all ages. Follow along on X @pompeybookfest for the latest updates.