The Public Engagement Team

We define public engagement in line with the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement’s definition;

“Public engagement describes the myriad of ways in which the activity and benefits of higher education and research can be shared with the public. Engagement is by definition a two-way process, involving interaction and listening, with the goal of generating mutual benefit.”

We see this as researchers actively taking part in a process of planning and delivering public engagement projects that have clear benefits to both researchers and their relevant publics, and will go on to influence the research produced within the Centre. This benefit may be in form of directly influencing the research, or may be more indirect through an increase in the professional skills of the researchers involved. 

Our team will encourage and develop the skills of the researchers (incl. PhD and Masters students) and staff in the Centre through training, meetings and inclusion in a diversity of engagement platforms. Our grant scheme will aim to further develop engagement skills from mobilising to pioneering their own engagement practice. 

We will form long-lasting relationships with community partners with the aim to enhance our engagement practice and share learning. 

Through this we endeavour to embed public engagement within the mission of the Centre and the research conducted.  

We will embed reflective practice throughout our work, evaluating both the change in culture towards public engagement in the Centre, and the success of our engagement program against the aims of the strategy.