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Local government and academic research:new routes for collaborationNatalie Jones, Deputy Head of Knowledge Exchange
▶Doctoral training centre network
▶Administrative data centre UK network
▶Evidence centres for social policy: What Works
▶Impact Acceleration Accounts at 24 universities
▶Local Government Knowledge Navigator programme
50 years of support for social science
▶Cross-disciplinary work to answer major societal issues
▶Greater awareness of international perspective
▶Collaborative working (in the UK and beyond)
▶Full exploitation of existing resources
▶ Investing in the next generation
ESRC Strategic Plan 2015
ESRC support for public services▶Research for IT
systems redesign,▶Oxford IAA support
for translating research on Nigerian policing reform,
▶Gateway for researchers into Parliament,
▶High Streets evidence review.
What IAAs are for▶To create conditions, capabilities and
opportunities for social and economic impact in and from social science research– Funded by ESRC or otherwise
▶Impacts on:– Policy making, implementation and evaluation,– Business and organisational performance,– Staff capabilities,– Infrastructures within organisations,– Integration of impact opportunities within
research proposals to ESRC
Business plans include:
▶Placements and secondments for researchers and research users,
▶Flexible awards schemes with quick turnaround,
▶Network and relationship development with research users and external organisations,
▶Training and development programmes to embed impact,
▶Focus on area based programmes e.g. east end of Glasgow, Norwich Science Park.
IAAs - What’s in it for local authorities▶Expertise based on high quality research:– Public health, social work, demography and
much more
▶Clear access points at each university
▶Advice and guidance
▶Embedded application processes for funding
▶Training and networking opportunities
For IAAs:Why encourage working with local authorities▶A wide range of activities, professional
groupings and affiliations▶Relatively accessible▶Potential for enduring relationships – less
churn▶Sources of lots of other networks▶Potential for visible impact by researchers▶Lots of them!▶BUT many have lost research expertise –
time to build relationships will be necessary
Plenary discussion
Some questions for discussion▶From the presentations by John Mawson
and the Knowledge Navigators:– What lessons have you identified?
▶From the presentations by Abdool Kara and Councillor Tim Cheetham:– How do your IAA business plans tackle the
issues they raised?
▶How can we best communicate with local government what is on offer through ESRC IAAs?
▶Catherine Staite– Director of the Institute
for Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham
▶Builds on existing work by Knowledge Navigators
▶Start 01 May 2015▶Embedded with
SOLACE and the LGA
Research Facilitator for Local Government
The Research Facilitator role
▶What the role entails: 4 Key Areas– Promote the benefits of research-local authority
collaborations,
– Support the partners to deliver key actions from Analysis to Action,
– Increase social science use within local government and their sector bodies,
– Monitor the impact of the role.
Contacting the research facilitator▶During April 2015:– [email protected] or
[email protected] (FAO Natalie Jones)
▶May 2015-April 2016:– Emily Hargreaves, Birmingham University
▪LG network for IAAs▪[email protected]
– David Pye, Local Government Association▪Primary link for IAA institutions▪[email protected]
