Communications networks

Communications Community of Practice

We are a vibrant community of over 500 communications professionals across Oxford University and its colleges. Formerly known as the Comms Community, this group has evolved from an informal network designed to help colleagues connect into a recognised Community of Practice (CoP) with clear priorities for advancement. It features structured groups and meet-ups based on specific specialisms or areas of interest, providing greater opportunities for collaboration and support.

More information about us can be found on the Communications CoP webpage, and our suite of resources is available via the Comms Hub.

Getting started is easy!
Join the community – complete the form on the Comms Hub to access the community Teams channel and receive our regular Comms Digest email.

The Communications Community has the following associated communities.

Event Management team

The Event Management channel aims to support you in all aspects of event planning, including events that are online, in person, or a mixture of both. We encourage you to share ideas, ask for help and offer advice to fellow members.

More information can be found on our Teams site

Alternatively, please email events@admin.ox.ac.uk

Video Makers Community

A cohesive community of video makers in Oxford which aims to communicate regularly, share ideas and skills, and collaborate on common goals.

Suitable for those who make videos and audio as a significant part of their work. Friendly to, but not suitable for, those who manage fixed AV assets (eg lecture theatres, events) and those who use video in communications (eg social media managers) – but if in doubt, say hello!

Please email tom.wilkinson@admin.ox.ac.uk to find out more.

Oxford Creatives (Creative Hub)

An interconnected community of creatives in Oxford, who talk, share inspiration, ideas and skills, as well as collaborate on common goals and challenges. The Creative Hub includes print and digital designers as well as illustrators and photographers. The Creative Hub also works closely with the Oxford Video makers.

The Creative Hub aims to provide a supportive space, nurture talent and act as a knowledge centre. The Hub connect with the University's wider comms community through Creative Hub sessions and workshops run throughout the year.

If you are a creative working within any part of the collegiate University and using proven industry tools (including, but not limited to, Adobe Creative Suite), we would love to hear from you. Please email brandanddesign@admin.ox.ac.uk to find out more.

There is no Communications Committee or other formal network as part of the Conference of Colleges committee structure, but there is a College Communications Officers email list and network that is maintained and updated regularly. Colleagues are welcome to circulate messages to the mailing list, and any new college staff with communications responsibility are invited to join the network. Termly meetings are held with regular updates on communications projects or university policies that have implications for communications – while informal, the aim is to share best practice and discuss challenges or projects that are common to colleges.

To join the network or circulate messages, please email: Claire.harvey@st-hildas.ox.ac.uk or Julia.paolitto@trinity.ox.ac.uk

MPLS Communications and Public Engagement with Research (PER) Network

MPLS has an informal network for anyone in the Division who has communications and/or PER in their remit. This ranges from departmental communications leads to those covering alumni relations, PER, outreach or external relations as well as communications, and administrators who have communications as part of their role. The network meets twice a term; one meeting has a communications focus and the other a PER focus. The aim is to provide practical information, enable the sharing of ideas and good practice, and create an informal support network for communications and PER staff in the Division.

To join the network, please email communications@mpls.ox.ac.uk.

Medical Sciences Division Communications Networks

We run two networks – one for communications and public engagement, one for Patient Public Involvement (PPI) – giving people the chance to share information and ideas, help promote each other's work, avoid duplication and, importantly, know who else 'exists' out there!

Communications and public engagement network

The network has over 150 members, most of whom are staff from across the Division working in communications and/or public engagement in one way or another (eg communications/public engagement officers, EAs/PAs with communications in their remit etc). The network also includes a few external members from close partner organisations such as the NHS and charities.

To join the network, please email the Head of Communications, Alison Brindle.

Patient Public Involvement (PPI) staff group

The PPI staff group brings together people who support a department or group with PPI activities, to ensure that they are consistent and follow best practice. The group also acts as a peer support network, meets once every two months and has an active Teams channel.

To join the group, please email PPI Manager, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Polly Kerr.

More information about both networks is available at: https://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/for-staff/resources/communications/networks.

The Professional Services Communications Leads Network meets regularly. This group includes all Communications Leads for the Professional Services areas (for example, Finance, Research Services and HR, etc.) Each meeting has a main topic for discussion.

To find out who is the representative for your area, please email the Senior Communications Manager, Morgan Evans at morgan.evans@admin.ox.ac.uk.

Social Sciences Communications Officers Network

The Social Sciences Communications Officers Network meets around every two months. Anyone who works in any aspect of communications in a social sciences department is welcome to attend. Each meeting has a main topic for discussion.

To join the network, please email communications@socsci.ox.ac.uk.