D5 - The Why, the How, and the Tensions of developing collaborations between University researchers and industry/business: the academic’s perspective
| Day | Day 2 |
|---|---|
| Session | D |
| Start time | 13:40 |
| Strand |
Research staff / talent development |
| Code | D5 |
| Presenters |
Dr Richard Fairchild, Senior Lecturer in Corporate Finance, University of Bath (and Public Engagement Advocate for the School of Management) Dr Neal Hinvest, Lecturer and Head of Neuroeconomics Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Bath |
Background:
Universities are increasingly recognising their role within the business/industry arena, with Research Councils’ and successive Governments’ policy of driving impact and public engagement with research encouraging ever closer links between industry and academia.
This workshop, led by two active researchers from the University of Bath, will explore the personal and professional benefits of university / industry collaborations to academics alongside the tensions faced by researchers who become actively involved in public engagement with industry as a means to drive impactful research. We will examine the lessons from the approach that the University of Bath is taking in this area, and will share a case study of a piece of university / industry collaboration that we have undertaken.
There will be an opportunity for participants to share information and ideas, to discuss how other institutions are addressing this challenge, and to quiz us on our perspectives as academics
The session will cover:
- Why academics should collaborate with business / industry – the personal and professional benefits to academics of such public engagement activity, with reference to the Public Engagement Lens of the Vitae Researcher Development Framework
- Strategies that universities can adopt to encourage researchers’ public engagement and impact within the industry/business arena
- Strategies to encourage industry/business to engage with us (recognising that it is a two-way process)
- The tensions that academics face when collaborating with business/industry partners
- Experiences from other institutions
Participants will:
- Have a greater awareness of the challenges and value of collaborating with industry / business from an academic’s perspective
- Explore alternative strategies to encourage public engagement and impact.
Format:
- We will share a case study of an engagement activity with industry to inform discussion and debate, alongside an Introductory Guide to Industry / Research Collaborations that we have developed
- For part of the session, we will adopt the World Café approach to tease out responses to three key challenges that we believe face academics who collaborate with industry
- We will share our own perspectives and experience and will encourage participants to share their own
