Public Engagement in Higher Education

Introduction to Public Engagement

• Public engagement with research is a two-way process involving interaction and listening, aiming for mutual benefit.
• The aim of the session is to develop or increase knowledge of public and community engagement, and its role in higher education.
• The session will focus on increasing knowledge and confidence in planning and delivering public engagement projects.
• The session aims to identify opportunities and practical frameworks to develop personal public engagement practice.

Learning Outcomes

• Aim 1: Develop or increase knowledge about public and community engagement and its function within higher education.
• Aim 2: Improve knowledge and confidence in planning and delivering public engagement projects.
• Aim 3: Explore practical frameworks and opportunities to create personal public engagement strategies.

Activity One: Drawing Challenge

• 60 seconds to draw 'Public Engagement' on a post-it note.
• Stick the post-it in the specified location.
• Explore and consider the drawings of other peers.

Core Questions for Public Engagement

• Why: The reasons for the project, goals, and desired public engagement; and the public's potential interest.
• Who: Identifying the target audience and potential participants.
• When: How the timing of engagement in the research cycle can optimise engagement opportunities.
• How: Designing a method that empowers public participation within the research context.
• What: Defining project outputs, outcomes, and impact; assessing the objectives and evaluating results, and the evidence presented by partners.

Activity Two: Purpose - Why?

• Reflect on current work.
• Respond to the 'purpose' questions in the handout, addressing the activity/research, desired outcomes/impact, and reasons for public engagement.
• Be prepared to share responses with the group.

Publics – Who?

• Demographics such as age, ethnicity, gender, economic status, education level, income level, employment are crucial factors in public engagement.
• The 'general public' concept does not exist.
• Individuals are diverse and are part of various communities.

When? Methods and Timeline

• Before: Focus groups, advisory groups, co-design processes, network building, participatory research
• During: Consultation, co-production, citizen science
• After: Media, exhibitions, websites, presentations, social media, publications, performances, festivals, and training development

Ways of Engaging

• Inspire and inform the public about research
• Collaborate with partners to solve problems leveraging expertise
• Consult and actively listen to public concerns, views, and insights.

Deeper Impact/Sharing Power

• User-led resources
• Committees
• Advisory/user boards
• Consultations
• Focus groups
• Public-led citizen juries
• Making decisions
• Collaboration
• Co-applicant
• Co-production
• Citizen Science

Communicating Research

• Know your public
• Voice and words
• Body language
• Simplicity
• Props
• Story telling

Activity Three: Whole Group Activity – The Good and The To Be Improved

• Watch a provided video clip.
• Note two things that worked well and two that could be improved.
• Be ready to share these observations with the rest of the group.

Activity Four: What Does Evaluation Mean to You?

• Reflect on the meaning of evaluation through brainstorming on post-it notes.

What Others Said: Systemic Analysis

• Systematic analysis of benefits of actions with focus on acquiring data, statistics or feedback from events/activities.
• Evaluation is about assessing strengths and weaknesses in the work and developing a plan to improve them in the future.
• Evaluation is about closing a course, lesson or activity by measuring results and the entire process.

Evaluation Should Lead to Action

• Reflecting, assessing or making a judgment about the quality or value of something.
• A tool to improve processes and activities.
• Evaluation leads to action.

Core Questions for Public Engagement (Recap)

• Ask "Why", "Who", "When", "How", and "What" to evaluate and plan activities.

Communicating Research (Recap)

• Understand the public.
• Use clear and simple language.
• Consider body language and props.
• Use storytelling to engage.

Planning for Evaluation

• Consider why you want to evaluate, what you want to know, opportunities, people involved, ways to collect data, and how to utilize outcomes.

Quantitative/Qualitative Methods

• Quantitative: Face/hand shows, voting counters, automated voting, photo analysis
• Qualitative: Visitor books, Graffiti walls, graphical notes/record

Guiding Principles

• Proportionate
• Relevant
• Appropriate
• Realistic

Theory of Change

• A comprehensive explanation of how a desired change is expected to happen in a specific context.
• Maps the 'missing middle' between activities and desired outcome goals.

Museum Theory of Action

• This model looks at intentional purposes (public needs, private needs, personal needs, institutional needs) connected to museum activities, resources, and evaluation data.

Introduction to the Theory of Change (+ logic models)

• A framework for understanding the steps and factors that lead to desired impacts. Tables outlining inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, impacts, assumptions and factors/risks are frequently used in the framework.

Conclusions

• Developed or increased knowledge about public and community engagement in higher education.
• Increased knowledge and confidence related to planning and delivering projects effectively.
• Introduced practical frameworks and opportunities for creating personal public engagement practices.

Public Engagement Network

• The network is a platform for communication regarding public engagement.
• Contact information and social media accounts are provided for accessing up-to-date news and opportunities.

Hands-On Humanities Day 2023

• A day for hands-on engagement in the humanities. This is stated as a specific event.

This quiz delves into the key concepts and practices of public engagement within higher education. Participants will explore the Theory of Change, its importance, and various aspects that contribute to effective engagement strategies. Test your understanding of how public engagement can shape research careers and community involvement.