Types of activities

Impact can come is many ways. Here are examples of some types of activities that have been used to engage stakeholders or disseminated research to enhance the likelihood of impact.

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  • Arts-based knowledge exchange: A means of conveying research using the creativity of artists or the creative sector.
  • Collaborative research project: A set piece of research work with an existing or prospective external organisation or stakeholder.
  • Commercialisation: Market research, patents, license agreements, IP and spin-out companies.
  • Community of interest collaboration: A social learning process whereby a group of people with a common interest come together to share, develop and advance a knowledge base.
  • Consultancy: Providing expertise using existing knowledge
  • Continued Professional Development (CPD): Upskilling professionals through lectures, workshops or your research being included in professional association guidance.
  • Educational material or outreach: Educational gatherings to convey evidence and knowledge.
  • Events: Workshops, interactive small group events, public lectures, debates, practitioner conferences.
  • Film and audio: Films or animations that explain and explore your research. These can be used to provide background information on complex research.
  • Media: Use of television, radio or print to raise awareness of the research or attract media participation eg public or practitioner awareness campaigns.
  • Networking: Interactions with external groups to advance your profile or meet collaborators.
  • Opinion leader or champion: External supporters that are well connected, credible and persuasive. They are considered knowledgeable, trustworthy, accessible and have a willingness to share knowledge with the community.
  • Patient-mediated intervention: Any intervention aimed at changing the performance of healthcare providers using patient-focused interventions to improve clinical practice.
  • Policy brief: A document providing a rationale to choose a particular policy or intervention.
  • Practice tools or decision aids: Tools that make the application of research user friendly.
  • Practitioner training: Facilitated training provided to practitioner groups to change attitudes, knowledge or practice behaviour.
  • Press release: A written or recorded communication directed at members of the media to announce something with news value.
  • Proof of concept project: Development of commercial ideas to the point at which they can engage with external collaborators and gain further investment.
  • Public engagement: Engaging the public with your research through university, faculty or departmental platforms. Support is available from the Public Engagement Team.
  • Secondments: Transfer of people in and out of the University to enhance the application of research knowledge.
  • Social media: Using technology to share or co-create knowledge, for example via Twitter, websites, blogs, surveys.
  • Stakeholder interaction: Increasing stakeholder participation through steering groups, workshops, sandpits.
  • Working with a knowledge exchange professional: Faculty specialists who can link researchers with external partners.