Industrial and External Engagement Masterclass Programme for Academics
Involving industry or other external collaborators in academic research is an increasingly vital aspect of many university careers and generally expected by research funders. It’s also important in other university endeavours.
Success is not, however, something that necessarily comes easily without some training and development.
Accelerate the growth of your industrial engagement connections and build a career-spanning asset
This workshop programme strengthens the individual and collective ability of academic staff to engage successfully with external organisations, mainly industrial companies, but also public bodies, non-profits and so on, relevant to research collaboration and wider university aims.
The programme is ideal for academics at all levels who are becoming more involved in external engagement and/or are initiating more complex collaborations.
The aims and outcomes are:
- Initiating and establishing connections – smoothly and confidently
- Managing relationships effectively; sensing the right time to take them to the next level
- Representing more than just own one’s work; also being a representative of your group or school or institution, thereby gaining credibility and referring others appropriately
- Developing, articulating, and securing agreement to collaborations with other organisations
- Developing a compelling vision of a proposition with potential partners
- Establishing multi-partner collaborations
- Initiating and developing relationships and collaborations on-line
- Using advanced skills of understanding and influencing others in an appropriate way
- Working effectively with professional services staff involved in external engagement
The learning is partly experiential and involves sharing experience and insight with peers, as well as learning new perspectives, approaches and skill ideas. Participants will meet and work with a diverse range of colleagues from across the sector, with a range of levels of experience.
The programme consists of a monthly online workshop of an hour and a half with a mix of conveying new skills and discussion of external engagement issues you bring to the workshop. The programme is online to ease attendance and keep costs to a minimum. A little reflection or reading time in advance of each session is required but there is no major pre-work.
Book your place
Attendance at your first two sessions is free, to give you a chance to get to know me, if you don’t already, the format, and some of the learning. Thereafter, the cost to subscribe to the programme is:
Businesses and Organisations
£47+VAT
per person per month for universities
Individuals
£27+VAT
per person per month for individuals paying their own way
After the two free sessions, we ask for a commitment to the monthly sessions, which you can cancel at any time. All sessions are recorded for catch-up purposes.
Each meeting is an opportunity to become more systematically capable in your professional relationships and to gather input on current challenges.
For further information, workshop dates and to request a place, please complete the form below:
Testimonials
FAQs
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How many people are in the workshop group?
Typically from about 8 through to 25. On any given day, some participants will have other commitments and so the number attending live will be fewer. Those who can’t make it catch up with the recording. The small group size provides opportunity for work on participants’ individual issues and opportunities.
Do participants have to join at the start of the programme?
No. Each workshop stands on its own and new participants can join after the first session to ease organisation of the programme. Once someone has joined the programme and decided it’s a fit for them, there is an expectation that they will stay engaged, even if they can’t make every session, unless or until they decide the programme is no longer adding value for them. Commitment is important for all participants.
How long does a programme last?
Participants stay with the programme for as long as they find it useful. The workshops continue indefinitely.
How does payment for the programme work?
The fee for the programme is a monthly figure. Many clients prefer to be invoiced for their attendance for payment by bank transfer. That can be organised monthly, or in blocks of months to cut down administration. Where several people from the same institution are attending, normally these will be invoiced in a single invoice, for one or a number of months. Payment by credit card can also be arranged.
Do you provide a discount for multiple months or attendees?
The programme fee is already set at an introductory level and anticipates payment for blocks of months and/or people. The programme is already very good value.
Can I receive individual coaching and support alongside the programme?
Yes. One-to-one sessions can be incorporated in the programme.
Can you deliver an in-house version of this programme to a group of our leaders?
Yes. In-house programmes have been delivered. Please get in touch to discuss the approach you need.
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