Engagement is central to the University’s strategic plan and its values. By engaging with others, we use our collective knowledge and expertise as a force for good, creating positive economic, cultural, societal and environmental change and the aim of the portal is to give you the engagement resources you need to make this happen
Navigating the Portal
There are six sections to the portal, a summary of each is shown opposite. The portal was launched in October 2023. In its first iteration the primary focus is to support academics and researchers carrying out engagement, but parts should be of interest to professional services staff, particularly anyone working in knowledge exchange. There is a wealth of resources within the portal and the intention is that the resources can be browsed and accessed when needed. The resources will be added to and updated over time. We value feedback and suggestions. Please do get in touch using the email at the bottom of the page.
Engagement Explained
This section looks at the interrelationship of the three strategic priorities of teaching, research and engagement. The different types of engagement and their benefits are explained. Frameworks including the Knowledge Exchange Framework and Concordat are explored.
Carrying out Engagement
Here you are taken through the process of carrying out effective engagement- defining your purpose and objectives, deciding who you are going to engage with and choosing engagement activities. You will find out why evaluation is important and some guidance to help you.
Skills for Effective Engagement
Communicating research to a non-expert audience is an important skill for effective engagement. Here you will find advice and guidance on this and topics including facilitation skills, organising an engagement event and negotiation skills.
Working with Partners
Engagement involves working with many different partners - businesses, third sector, public bodies, policymakers, the public and communities, media and stakeholders. This section provides advice and guidance for working with these partners.
Engage to Further your Career
Engagement can help to advance your career- through developing your transferable skills, building your research profile, and applying for academic promotion. The ways in which engagement can offer new opportunities are explored through case studies.
Support for Engagement
The University has central support for engagement as well as support available in departments and the faculties. This is detailed here alongside information on funding your engagement. Networks, mailing lists, FAQs and a glossary are available for you here.
Talking heads- our staff supporting others to carry out engagement
A number of staff have shared their learning in carrying out engagement through a talking head video. These are shown in the gallery below and are embedded in appropriate sections within the portal.
If you have experience of engagement that would be valuable to share with others then please do get in touch on the email below.
Working with policymakers
In this video, Nancy Preston, Professor of Supportive and Palliative Care, talks about her experience of engaging with policymakers and why this is important to her work.
Using expertise in consultancy
Steve Young, Professor of Accounting discusses how he has used consultancy to apply his expertise to organisations and help to address their challenges. He talks about the benefits of undertaking consultancy work - how the money has allowed him to fund research - and the support he has received from the consultancy team.
Engage to further your career
Dr Cath Hill, a Lecturer in Social Work, made a successful academic promotion case. Listen to her talk about how she used her engagement activity to make a strong promotion case and share some tips for success.
Read Cath's case study about her Bee the Difference co-designed research project.
Bee the difference case studyWorking with policymakers
Dr Temidayo Eseonu, Lecturer in Politics and Policy, talks about her research on working with policymakers to ensure that the views of racially minoritised communities are represented in the policy-making process. She shares her experience and gives some useful tips for others that are wanting to engage with policymakers.
How engagement, research and teaching interrelate
Dan Prince, Professor of Cyber Security encourages all academics to build up an engagement portfolio. He talks about how engagement can increase research impact - informing policy debate, and business ideas and increasing public understanding. His network of external practitioners have been transformational to the student experience, through sharing their real-life experience and challenges.
Working with the media
Professor Hilary Ingham from the Economics department has worked closely with the university’s press office to build up a significant media profile over recent years. She is a labour market expert and has given many interviews to help the public understand and navigate various crises such as ongoing industrial action, the cost of living crisis and the rising cost of energy. Find out more by listening to her talking head video.
Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship
Professor Peter Garraghan talks about how expertise in AI and machine learning has led to the development of a Lancaster University start-up company called Mindgard. He talks about the benefits and impact of commercialising research in this way and shares some tips to help guide others.