About Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Engagement
Engagement means many things to many people but at its core is the idea of mutually beneficalÌýtwo way dialogue connecting higher education research and teaching with the world outside. We are here to help Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø staff and students listen to and engage with communities.
¹ó´Ç³Ü°ùÌýprinciples underpin the contemporary approach to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Engagement. More details can be found in our strategy:
- Listen & Respond: We focus on equipping Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø to listen and respond to community need, locally and globally
We work to increase the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø community’s understanding of problems faced by communities locally and globally. In this way, we also spark ideas of how drawing on community-based experience and assets can lead to collaborative success in solving challenges and creating positive change together
Ìý - Collaborate: We open the conversations which inform Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø’s research and teaching to all, particularly to those whose voices are heard less often or have been drowned out in the past.
We are committed to working to dismantle institutional, systemic and structural barriers to engagement for specific communities both inside and outside Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø. We inspire conversations and showcase how to ensure that every voice counts. We champion collaborations so that everyone can engage with the ideas that can help us build a better society together.
Ìý - Equity & Inclusion: We welcome all to participate foregrounding the principles of equity & inclusionÌý
This informs how we think and how we act across all strands of the strategy. We commit to acting on the data, evidence and recommendations which already exist around how we can dismantle institutional, systemic and structural barriers for specific communities (inside and outside Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø).
- Experiment: We encourage a spirit of experimentation, learning and sharing
We approach both public and community engagement with the same curiosity-led approach which characterises Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø research and teaching. We are committed to sharing what we learn about how to work with others to achieve more with government (national and local), UKRI and funders, the Higher Education sector and beyond.
Why should you get on board?
Research is a political and social act and, like UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we believe that 'disconnection between research and innovation and wider society makes it harder to reap the benefits and harder to identify and prioritise the challenges people really care about' (). Engagement at its core is a 'two-way process, involving interaction and listening, with the goal of generating mutual benefit' () and those benefits can take many forms for both you and the people you engage with. We see benefits ranging fromÌýnew perspectives on research, development of transferrable skills, new research directions, increased enthusiasm and motivation for research/teaching, new connections, advocacy and much more.ÌýÌýÌýÌý
How can we help you on your journey?
Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø has one of the most established ÌýEngagement teams in the country. We choose to frame public engagement as a journey, whether it is undertaken by individuals, groups, departments or institutions. Public engagement at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø is not a journey you take on your own. Whether you are a student, early career researcher, senior academic or professional services staff member, we can help you build a public engagement journey that works for you. We work with individuals, teams and departments to build capacity for institutional change. We support the multiple individual journeys that combine to create the momentum for change.
Find out more about how we can help you:
- Sign up to our newsletter to hear about upcoming opportunities, training and ideas: Click here to sign up to our newsletter
- Check out our training offers, some of which you can do right now at your own pace: Click here to find out more about our training
- Read ourÌýblog which reflects on engagement practice, past activities and personal stories in engagement:
- Contact us via e-mail: publicengagement@ucl.ac.uk and follow us on Twitter: