Training and development

We offer a host of training and development sessions for staff and students. The sessions are a mixture of presentations, activities and discussions to provide you with the knowledge and practical skills needed for public engagement activities.

Training courses

The following training sessions can be booked online through the Training Catalogue.

1. Public engagement
2. PPIE
3. Social media
4. Impact
5. Other support

1. Public engagement

Getting started with public engagement

This half-day workshop is designed for researchers who are new to or have limited experience of public engagement, and want to build up their skills for more effective public engagement.

Beginner’s guide to evaluating public engagement

This interactive back-to-basics workshop will encourage you to think about why evaluation of engagement is important. It will also look at ways to get started, explore different techniques you can use and enable you to consider what your findings can tell you.

Masterclass in evaluating public engagement

This interactive workshop will provide an opportunity for you to reflect on your own practice and consider how to maximise the value of evaluating your engagement activities.

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2. PPIE

Lay summaries with impact

This session will help you to prepare and test out your lay summary, which will form an important element of your future grant applications and ethics applications, and are increasingly being requested by research journals to increase the accessibility of research.

Getting started with public and patient involvement (PPI)

This half-day workshop has been designed for researchers who are new to, or have some experience with public and patient involvement (PPI). This interactive workshop will give you an understanding of the current NHS policy/health and social care research landscape and where PPI fits within it, as well as providing practical advice for developing your PPI strategy.

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3. Social media

Academic blogging for content and dissemination

In this workshop, you will learn about a specific type of academic blogging that focuses on content and dissemination. This type of blogging is a practical and efficient tool to disseminate research, develop new writing skills, raise your academic profile and have an impact on society.

Research blogging

The workshop will provide you with a structured approach to planning, writing and curating content for a research blog.

Making the most out of social media

This workshop deconstructs how you can engage social media and use it to your advantage.

Focusing particularly on Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter, we will cover:

• Examples of effective social media profiles;
• Pros and cons of having a social media presence;
• Some does and don’ts;
• Hints, tips and techniques to manage a successful media presence;
• Identifying opportunities to develop your research career.

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4. Impact

Altmetrics to measure non-academic impact

Find out how to demonstrate the impact your research is having beyond traditional academia. The emerging area of altmetrics offers new and powerful ways to track and report on the online attention of research.

Impact training for researchers

Understanding the impact agenda can help develop robust responses to these requirements and justify additional funding to support impact generation. Topics include:

• Introduction to research impact – what impact is (and isn’t) and key elements of impact planning and delivery;
• Planning for research impact – including in grant applications;
• Communicating your research – with a wide variety of groups and audiences;
• Working with external stakeholders to achieve research impact;
• Evidencing research impact.

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5. Other support

Standing Up For Science

This workshop encourages Early Career Researchers to make their voices heard in public debates about science. Participants will meet scientists who have engaged with the media, learn from respected science journalists, hear from policymakers on how to inform policy and talk about involving the public in communicating research with public engagement experts.

Bespoke sessions

We are able to provide bespoke courses for faculties, departments and CDTs. We can develop training sessions tailored your specific needs and integrate public engagement training into existing schemes. If you are interested in a bespoke session, get in touch with us to discuss your requirements. Email: engagement@manchester.ac.uk

Advice surgeries

If you are looking to design a public engagement activity, submit a grant, evaluate your activities or embark on a career in public engagement, you can meet up with our team in Social Responsibility for a one-to-one advice surgery. To set up a session, please contact us Email: engagement@manchester.ac.uk

artsmethods @ manchester

This is a programme of talks, workshops and events running throughout the academic year. The programme explores approaches to arts research, research methods and the dissemination of arts and languages research at the University and beyond. Find out more on the artsmethods@manchester website.

Public contributors