IMPACT SKILLS TRAINING
At WCL, we believe that developing researchers' skills and confidence is at the heart of a successful institutional culture for research impact.
Our impact skills training is designed to bridge the gap between general principles of research impact and the 'How do I actually do this?' question.
Whether you prefer self-paced online courses that you can fit around your busy academic diary, in-person workshops or bespoke training and one-to-one mentoring, our impact training can help you and your research colleagues articulate, plan, and evidence your engagement and impact activity.
TRAINING WORKSHOPS
Our training workshops can be delivered face-to-face or online unless specified. All are structured to provide focused support, optimise learning outcomes and the opportunity to ask questions and engage in valuable discussion with fellow researchers.
We also understand that your research impact training needs may be targeted to a specific topic, discipline or researcher group that wants to explore impact topics in more depth or receive one-to-one mentoring and feedback on their impact plans and projects.
We are always happy to discuss bespoke training tailored to your institution's specific impact training needs and goals. Use the contact us form or book a call with one of our consultants to learn more.
ONLINE WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY 22 JANUARY 2025
HOW TO REVIEW AND CLASSIFY AN IMPACT CASE STUDY
Following our November workshop, we will be running this online session on reviewing and classifying impact case studies again in January for anyone new to REF submissions. Places will be limited to 12 to facilitate a fully interactive session.
We'll cover REF case study template requirements, how to assess the reach and significance of draft impact case studies, the different types of evidence available, how they might be used to support impact, and how to give feedback fairly and offer a sensible potential ranking.
Ideal for: UoA or department impact leads, directors of impact or those providing REF support for the first time
Duration: 3 hours (online)
Price: From £289 +VAT (per person)
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH IMPACT
This workshop offers a grounding in the basic concepts of research impact for those new to it. Beginning with your 'why', it provides tips on easy ways to build your impact knowledge and methods to incorporate impact thinking into research planning and projects from the start.
Ideal for: Early career researchers/PhD and those new to impact
Duration: 3 hours
Price: From £2,500 +VAT
We also run this workshop with content tailored to arts and humanities disciplines.
Using logic models and backward mapping, this workshop helps researchers to identify the people and organisations needed to progress their research towards impact, to understand the role those individuals will play and the methods and tools of engagement available before, during and after the research.
Ideal for: Researchers at all career stages
Duration: 3 hours
Price: From £3,400 +VAT
PEOPLE MAPPING AND IMPACT PLANNING
EVIDENCING ENGAGEMENT AND IMPACT
This workshop provides an overview of what impact evidence is and how it differs from evidence of activity. Providing examples of evidence collection methods (tried and tested and the more creative), we look at the benefits of collecting evidence during a project and beyond to help you consider when to start collecting data, how to store it and how to tackle common challenges.
Ideal for: Researchers at all career stages
Duration: 3 hours
Price: From £2,500 +VAT
We also run this workshop with content tailored to arts and humanities disciplines.
USING STORYTELLING TO CREATE A COMPELLING IMPACT NARRATIVE
This workshop focuses on using storytelling to help you identify, build or enhance impact narratives in funding proposals, REF impact case studies and career progression. Drawing on inspiring examples, you will learn how to use and present impact stories in formats such as university websites, policy briefs and narrative CVs.
Ideal for: Researchers at all career stages
Duration: 3 hours
Price: From £2,500 +VAT
This workshop is the ideal grounding for individuals in the impact pipeline expecting to develop an impact case study for REF 2029. As well as busting some common misconceptions about the REF, you’ll come away with a better understanding of the REF impact case study template, what the REF impact panels are assessing, impact evidence for the REF and common characteristics of the best REF case studies.
Ideal for: First-time impact case study authors
Duration: 3 hours
Price: From £2,500 +VAT
INTRODUCTION TO REF IMPACT
WRITING A REF IMPACT CASE STUDY
This is a full-day facilitated writing retreat delivered at your institution or an off-site location. Following brief guidance on writing an impact case study and the requirements for each section of the template, you'll immerse yourself in drafting your case study with opportunities for peer review and feedback. The format of the day is flexible and can be adapted to ICS author needs and where they are in their case study development.
Ideal for: REF impact case study authors
Duration: Full day
Price: From £4,500 +VAT (two facilitators)
IMPACT INTEGRATORS™
ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAMME
The Impact Integrators™ impact skills training programme helps researchers to define the research impact they want to have, understand the potential impact of their past, current and future research and build the skills and confidence to do so. Designed for early to mid-career researchers, researchers new to the UK and experienced researchers who want to refresh their impact skills and knowledge, the four, self-paced online courses are designed to bridge the gap between the general principles of impact and the 'how do I actually do this?' question.
