Supporting Knowledge Mobilization : From the roots to the fruits

Jérôme Elissalde – Research Office

Luc Dancause – Partnership and Innovation Support Office Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum 2013 - Mississauga – June 3-4, 2013

Supporting Knowledge Mobilization : From the roots to the fruits…

Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM

An Initiative

Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) • Midsized comprehensive university

September 2010 : Two professionals hired • Research Office • Partnership and Innovation Support Office

Challenges • To better support research units • To increase the accessibility of expertise • To develop new ways to interact with partners

…For 7 faculties and schools



Stakeholders perspectives

– Researchers – Students – Research Unit Coordinators – University Support Staff – Executives – Partners – Granting agencies

Challenges

• Doing KMb

• Supporting KMb

Thinking

• Beyond the silos

Acting

• Individually

• Collectively

• Institutionally

ACTIONS… AND PITFALLS


Stimulating reflection on KMb at the institutional level

• Actions – Collaborative events*

– Website on KMb

• Pitfalls – Not everybody is at the same level

– Some people feel as if their approach and/or status is being questioned

– Disciplinary barriers


Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM

A collaborative KMb event

81 people interested in KMb got together on November 23rd 2012 • 6 faculties represented, 40 coordinators and other

research support staff, 15 researchers, 10 students working as research assistants, 8 executives, 8 partners…

• Discussion on perceptions, needs and goals • Art of Hosting approach A simple event ? Rather an ongoing process !


EXTERNAL COLLABORATIONS

INTERNAL COLLABORATIONS • Communications Services • Student Services • Recruitment Services • Continuing Education

Services

Pitfalls • Time consuming • Unknown pre-existing

connections



Counseling and capacity development

Actions – Support for research projects and

partnerships

– KMb planning tools

– CoP – KMb and Communications

Pitfalls – Finding the right tone

– Finding the right format

– Flying under the radar



Identifying and promoting research expertise

Actions – Focus cards

– Communications Services

– Portraits of UQAM expertise in a

variety of research areas

Pitfalls – Outdated or incomplete databases

– Shortcomings of the system

– Promoting only stars



Connecting researchers and practitioners

Actions

– Networking events

– External demands

Pitfalls

– Organizations and researchers not working at the same rate

– Fear of shaking hands with the devil



Facing KMb challenges

To improve, stakeholders must get better at…

• understanding

• planning

• communicating

• collaborating

• evaluating



What’s Next?

Complex system


Promote Support capacity

development Systematize procedures Formalize our work

Support creation of new research units

Provide meeting spaces

Develop alliances (internal & external)

Have fun !

What’s Next?

Shared vision, shared leadership and responsibility

www.mdc.uqam.ca [email protected] Twitter: @mdc_uqam

Knowledge Mobilization Support

Université du Québec à Montréal

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Supporting Knowledge Mobilization : From the roots to the fruits