1. Director, National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement
What is public engagement and why does it matter? And what can universities do to support it better?
Paul Manners
Director, National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement

3. What is public engagement?

4. What is public engagement?
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.

5. WHO ARE THE ‘PUBLIC’?

6. Potential stakeholders or partners
Communities of place
Communities of interest
Schools, colleges and lifelong learning
Community organisations and societies
Potential stakeholders or partners
Cultural and leisure services
Voluntary organisations and charities
Health and well being agencies
Regional / national govt
NGOs
Local authorities / strategic bodies
Social enterprises
Businesses

7. Potential stakeholders or partners
The ‘general public’
Communities of place
Communities of interest
Schools, colleges and lifelong learning
Community organisations and societies
Potential stakeholders or partners
‘Civil society’
‘Public sector ‘
Cultural and leisure services
Voluntary organisations and charities
Health and well being agencies
Regional / national govt
NGOs
Local authorities / strategic bodies
Social enterprises
Businesses

8. Potential stakeholders or partners
Public engagement
Communities of place
Communities of interest
Schools, colleges and lifelong learning
Community organisations and societies
Potential stakeholders or partners
Cultural and leisure services
Civic engagement
Community engagement
Voluntary organisations and charities
Health and well being agencies
Regional / national govt
NGOs
Local authorities / strategic bodies
Social enterprises
Businesses
Business engagement

9. What kinds of activities are involved?

10. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH RESEARCH The engaged university
Actively involving the public in the research activity of the institution
Collaborative research projects
Co-produced research with the public helping to shape the research design and/or delivery
Supporting the development of community-based researchers
Seeking insight or advice to inform future activity
The engaged university

11. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH RESEARCH The engaged university
Actively involving the public in the research activity of the institution
Collaborative research projects
Co-produced research with the public helping to shape the research design and/or delivery
Supporting the development of community-based researchers
Seeking insight or advice to inform future activity
The engaged university
KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & SHARING
Increasing the two-way flow of knowledge and insight between the university and wider society
Communicating research activity and outcomes
Contributing to regional and national policy development
Offering consultancy and CPD for community organisations

12. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH RESEARCH The engaged university
ENGAGED TEACHING
Developing teaching activities which positively impact on the community, and enhance students’ engagement skills
Supporting lifelong learning and community capacity building
Teaching engagement skills
Raising aspirations of young people
Service (or ‘community-based’) learning
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH RESEARCH
Actively involving the public in the research activity of the institution
Collaborative research projects
Co-produced research with the public helping to shape the research design and/or delivery
Supporting the development of community-based researchers
Seeking insight or advice to inform future activity
The engaged university
KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & SHARING
Increasing the two-way flow of knowledge and insight between the university and wider society
Communicating research activity and outcomes
Contributing to regional and national policy development
Offering consultancy and CPD for community organisations

13. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH RESEARCH The engaged university
ENGAGED TEACHING
Developing teaching activities which positively impact on the community, and enhance students’ engagement skills
Supporting lifelong learning and community capacity building
Teaching engagement skills
Raising aspirations of young people
Service (or ‘community-based’) learning
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH RESEARCH
Actively involving the public in the research activity of the institution
Collaborative research projects
Co-produced research with the public helping to shape the research design and/or delivery
Supporting the development of community-based researchers
Seeking insight or advice to inform future activity
The engaged university
KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & SHARING
Increasing the two-way flow of knowledge and insight between the university and wider society
Communicating research activity and outcomes
Contributing to regional and national policy development
Offering consultancy and CPD for community organisations
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Seeking to maximise the benefits that the institution can generate for the public
Opening up facilities and campus to the public
Investing in partnerships and infrastructure to support collaboration with civic society
Staff and student volunteering to support the community

14. What purposes can it serve?

15. INFORMING CONSULTING COLLABORATING
Inspiring, informing and educating the public, and making the work of HE more accessible
CONSULTING
Actively listening to the public’s views, concerns and insights
COLLABORATING
Working in partnership with the public to solve problems together, drawing on each other’s expertise

27. How can universities support PE more effectively?

28. What’s the problem?
We’re aiming to be very positive today – but to offer solutions you need to know what the problems are you’re trying to solve and this is a good place to start – I’m sure all or nearly all of your are aware of this hugely influential report which identified a whole host of issues ... In particular the research-driven culture – including pressure to publish, attract funding for and build careers on ‘hard research’ – means that public engagement is not a priority within many HEIs. Public engagement is also seen as not well regarded by peers, and is difficult to undertake as it does not bring in significant funding.

29. This initiative aims to create a culture within UK Higher Education where public engagement is formalised and embedded as a valued and recognised activity for staff at all levels, and for students.
The Royal Society report was an important platform for the launch of the beacons initiative – a £9.2 m project funded by Research Councils the HE Funding councils and Wellcome. Focus on internal culture change
Funded by the UK Funding Councils, Research Councils UK and the Wellcome Trust 29

30. Manchester Beacon connecting people, place & knowledge
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT UNIT
Manchester Beacon connecting people, place & knowledge

31. CUE East baseline study
The importance of public engagement
“It’s difficult to say because it almost comes into a different category because it is not part of my job description or one of the measures against which I think I will ever be measured…it’s more like deciding do I want to go for a run today? It’s something I enjoy and it’s important but I don’t really see it as a part of my paid job” (Senior Researcher)
55 semi-structured interviews with academic staff
Sample 1 - targeted individuals (n=24)
Heads of Schools
Associate Deans for Enterprise & Engagement
Associate Deans for Research
Pro Vice Chancellor
Sample 2 - randomly selected academic staff by faculty & grade (n=31)
Four faculties – Science, Social Science, Health, Arts & Humanities
Four grade levels – Snr Academic, Academic, Snr Researcher, Researcher
CUE East baseline study

32. KEY FINDINGS
RESPONSE
84% involved, but lack of a shared understanding.
Devise a ‘working’ typology.
PE not as important as research and teaching and for some, admin.
New promotions criteria links PE to teaching & research.
Lack of strategic support
New UEA Corporate Plan with Engagement a priority.
Very little recording happening & no institutional mechanism in place
‘Engagement Tracker’ developed
PE is not rewarded in any formal way.
New promotions criteria and individual awards.
Evaluation of PE is minimal.
Advice to individuals & projects on evaluation.

33. SENSE OF PURPOSE:
An engaged university has embedded a commitment to public engagement in its institutional mission and strategy, and champions that commitment at all levels
PEOPLE
Involving staff, students and representatives of the public and using their energy, expertise and feedback to shape the strategy and its delivery, focussing on:
- Staff
- Students
- Public

34. SENSE OF PURPOSE:
An engaged university has embedded a commitment to public engagement in its institutional mission and strategy, and champions that commitment at all levels
MISSION
Create a shared understanding of the purpose, value, meaning and role of public engagement to staff and students and embed this in your strategy and mission.
LEADERSHIP
Support champions across the organisation who embrace public engagement
COMMUNICATION
Communicate consistent, clear messages to validate, support and celebrate it, and ensure open and two-way communication with members of the public and community organisations.

35. SUPPORT:
An engaged university is investing in systems and processes that facilitate involvement and learning, recognise achievement and evaluate impact and value for money

36. REWARD SUPPORT LEARNING
An engaged university is investing in systems and processes that facilitate involvement and learning, recognise achievement and evaluate impact and value for money
REWARD
Recognise and reward staff involvement within recruitment, promotion, workload plans and performance reviews, and celebrate success with awards or prizes.
SUPPORT
Co-ordinate the delivery of public engagement to maximise efficiency, target support, improve quality, foster innovation, join up thinking and monitor involvement and impact.
LEARNING
Provide opportunities for learning and reflection and provide support for continuing professional development and training

37. PEOPLE:
An engaged university Involving staff, students and representatives of the public and using their energy, expertise and feedback to shape the strategy and its delivery

38. PEOPLE:
An engaged university Involving staff, students and representatives of the public and using their energy, expertise and feedback to shape the strategy and its delivery
STAFF
Ensure that all staff – in academic and support roles – have opportunities to get involved in informal and formal ways.
STUDENTS
Proactively include and involve students in shaping the mission and in the delivery of the strategy, and maximise opportunities for their involvement.
PUBLIC
Invest in people, processes and infrastructure to support and nurture the involvement of individuals and organisations external to the HEI

39. Focal points purpose process people MISSION
Create a shared understanding of the purpose, value, meaning and role of public engagement to staff and students and embed this in your strategy and mission.
LEADERSHIP
Support champions across the organisation who embrace public engagement
COMMUNICATION
Communicate consistent, clear messages to validate, support and celebrate it, and ensure open and two-way communication with members of the public and community organisations.
process
REWARD
Recognise and reward staff involvement within recruitment, promotion, workload plans and performance reviews, and celebrate success with awards or prizes.
SUPPORT
Co-ordinate the delivery of public engagement to maximise efficiency, target support, improve quality, foster innovation, join up thinking and monitor involvement and impact.
LEARNING
Provide opportunities for learning and reflection and provide support for continuing professional development and training
people
STAFF
Ensure that all staff – in academic and support roles – have opportunities to get involved in informal and formal ways.
STUDENTS
Proactively include and involve students in shaping the mission and in the delivery of the strategy, and maximise opportunities for their involvement.
PUBLIC
Invest in people, processes and infrastructure to support and nurture the involvement of individuals and organisations external to the HEI

45. LEARNING
Focus
Embedding
Support for informal development
Informal mechanisms exist to share information about PE. Regular events aimed at different levels are organised by dedicated staff. People are keen to share experience and honest about failures. Individuals from outside organisations are actively involved.
Building formal support into CPD programmes
The institution has clear definitions of both PE and the skills or attributes required to do it. Individuals are supported to take a strategic and reflective approach to CPD in PE. Research groups are supported to develop a PE strategy which draws on different people’s strengths, skills and interests. Training is evaluated and is of high quality. The institution supports a network of PE training providers.
Opportunities for learning
Training and development is linked to skills and opportunities to apply those skills. A reflective approach is encouraged and supported.
Infrastructure to support learning
Posts which include a remit to co-ordinate PE activities are dispersed throughout the institution. Regular meetings support a ‘joined-up’ rather than ‘top-down’ approach to co-ordination. There is significant investment in infrastructure to support CPD in PE which is evaluated for effectiveness. Information about professional development opportunities is linked to skills.

46. What skills and attributes are involved?

48. Communication Empathy Reflection
- You adapt your communication for different audiences
- You have a robust knowledge of the topic in question
- You listen and respond carefully and value other people's contributions
- You find out about & build on your audience's knowledge & understanding
Empathy
- You are sensitive to issues of diversity and inclusion
- You respect differences in understanding and attitudes
- You are sensitive to social and ethical issues
- You have the capacity to build and sustain effective partnerships
Reflection
- You welcome feedback
- You reflect on your own practice and learn from it
- You evaluate your activity
You recognise when to seek advice or support

49. The case for public engagement

51. UK research organisations have a strategic commitment to public engagement
Researchers are recognised and valued for their involvement with public engagement activities.
Researchers are enabled to participate in public engagement activities through appropriate training, support and opportunities.
The signatories and supporters of this Concordat will undertake regular reviews of their and the wider research sector’s progress in fostering public engagement across the UK.