Enabling impactful research through our academy training programmes

As a part of our current Institute Academic Programme (IAP), the Institute for Policy and Engagement organised a networking morning for our current and past cohorts on Wednesday 14 May.

Hosted within the City as Lab space at Castle Meadow Campus, the morning included four external speakers as well as a series of trialogue discussions to inspire conversations and ideas for current projects.

Co(l)laboratory

The morning started with a presentation from Rebecca Ogdon, Civic Engagement Project Manager at Nottingham Trent University and Matthew Young, Co(l)laboratory Doctoral Programme Manager, from Nottingham Trent University.

Co(l)laboratory is a joint initiative by University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University under the Universities for Nottingham partnership. The programme aims to bring together researchers, community-focused organisations, and local citizens to deliver meaningful change for the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. It enables researchers to collaborate with local citizens and communities to shape their work and direct the research to where it is needed. By encouraging public engagement to be priority within research, communities and academics can create meaningful change in Nottingham, the wider Nottinghamshire county and the UK.

The speakers explored the effectiveness of Co(l)laboratory research, the learnings gained so far, and how our cohort can incorporate these tools into their research.

Trialogue discussion

The cohort then dived into groups of three for trialogue discussions. Trialogue discussion is an opportunity for a conversation between three people to share their ideas and hear other people’s perspectives on individual projects. Everyone gets the chance to be the conversation ‘lead’ and speak about their project as well as a conversation contributor.

For effective trialogue discussions, the conversation contributors need to lean into the discussion, asking questions and drawing on their own experience to offer advice. By combining our current and previous IAP cohort in this discussion, we created opportunities for in depth learnings and advice from different perspectives. 

POW Nottingham

After refreshments, the morning concluded with a presentation from POW Nottingham. POW Nottingham is a non-profit, voluntary organisation supporting the right of sex workers and those at risk of being exploited.

Jessica Brannan (CEO)  and Sam Richardson-Martin (Specialist Women and Girls Navigator) gave insights into the pressures charities are facing in these uncertain times. They explored ways to develop successful relationships between academics and organisations with the goal of producing valuable, research which benefits both the academic and charity. 

Our researchers also shared some of the issues they face in collaborating with charity partners, exploring some surprising similarities and opportunities for better practice in future. 

Summary

It was fantastic to listen to the conversations and connections created from this networking morning, and a big thank you to our speakers and cohort for attending.

Our Institute Academy Programmes help Nottingham researchers develop their ability to achieve local, national and even global change.  Skills learnt on networking days like this are vital to this aim, ensuring that Nottingham researchers have the knowledge and support they need to have positive, effective and meaningful impacts through their work.