Strategic objectives in detail

1a: Define engagement

We will develop a shared understanding of public and community engagement with research across the University that emphasises the purposes of engagement as fostering connections, building relationships and benefitting research and society.

We will avoid a restrictive definition that might constrain the diverse nature of engagement activities and purposes.

1b: Integrate engagement

We will work to make engagement that adds value to society the norm within our research, through:

• Support: Increasing support for individuals undertaking public engagement activities, including integrating engagement into proposals, providing training, and removing barriers.
• Recognition: Enhancing recognition for individuals involved in public engagement activities through both informal and formal institutional pathways.
• Strategic alignment: Aligning public and community engagement with other knowledge exchange agendas and activities across the University to ensure cohesive and impactful outcomes.

1c: Connect engagement

We will make more people aware of the University's engagement work, internally and externally, and build internal networks through:

• Greater visibility: Enhancing the visibility and awareness of engagement strategies, projects, and opportunities within the University.
• Improved connectivity: Facilitating regular gatherings for individuals involved in engagement activities to celebrate their efforts, share expertise, and build momentum.
• Shaping the field: Leveraging our growing experience and recognition in engagement work to contribute to and influence broader discussions on engagement.

1d: Steward engagement

We will strengthen governance for engagement across the University, ensuring we are transparent, joined-up and capture our efforts, through:

• Balanced central and divisional roles: Establishing a governance structure that respects central guidance while allowing for divisional and departmental autonomy, clearly delineating responsibilities, and avoiding duplication of efforts.
• Capturing our efforts: Implementing a shared framework to understand and describe the collective impact of our engagement work, enabling us to effectively communicate our engagement story both internally and externally.

2a: Engage with communities

We will work more closely with communities affected by our research, involving, listening to and learning from them, to increase their participation and influence in the University’s research, through:

• Building for the long term: Extending community engagement beyond individual projects, employing relational and interconnected approaches, and better coordinating relationships within the University to prevent over-saturation of communities.
• Addressing elitism: Creating more welcoming engagement spaces by prioritising diversity and inclusion in all aspects of engagement.
• A culture of feedback: Developing a culture of feedback in engagement activities to support action, including co-production with communities where appropriate.

2b: Engage responsibly

We will develop responsible engagement practices that are purposeful and interdisciplinary, through:

• Responsible Knowledge Exchange, Engagement, and Innovation: By the end of this strategy, the six principles of responsible engagement will be the standard framework guiding our engagement practices.
• Purpose and added value: Ensuring that engagement adds value and makes a difference to the participant(s), the researcher, or the research.
• Collaboration and interdisciplinarity: Encouraging engagement that brings disciplines together, reflecting the multifaceted nature of societal challenges.
• Quality and innovation: Supporting quality and innovative practices as essential goals, motivating those involved in engagement activities and fostering innovation.