These engagement/knowledge exchange and impact training sessions and resources are primarily aimed at researchers of any level. They will also be useful to professional services staff in research, communication and knowledge exchange management and support roles. View upcoming sessions or browse our catalogue of online resources.
If you have any specific training requests, please contact Louise Jones, research.kei@lse.ac.uk.
Upcoming sessions - Autumn Term 2024
Engaging with the new government
Wednesday 23 October, 11-12.30pm, Vera Anstey Room, Old Building
Now is an exciting time to think about how your research might shape the policies of the new UK government. Come along to this session to learn more about the best ways to get your research in front of the right people at the right time, and how LSE can support you. You will hear from our Public Affairs team and academic colleagues with experience of policy engagement. Sign up to attend or email research.kei@lse.ac.uk to register.
Getting published series
How to promote your publications
Wednesday 13 November, 1-2pm (lunch provided), Graham Wallas Room, 5th Floor, Old Building
Have you recently published a book or book chapter? Do you have a new publication due to be released soon? Our training series on the publishing process continues with a focus on promoting your publications. Hear from Anna D’Alton, Managing Editor of LSE Review of Books, Elinor Potts, Communications Coordinator for LSE Press, and academics with experience of book marketing to explore effective ways of promoting new books and book chapters, including advice on securing book reviews and other coverage. Sign up to attend or email research.kei@lse.ac.uk to register.
Workshops with award-winning writer James Moran
LSE are delighted to offer three workshops from award-winning writer James Moran, featuring exclusive advice from academic publishers and writing tips from fifteen years of professional writing experience. James' workshops are always in heavy demand with limited spaces, so book now to avoid disappointment.
1. Advanced academic storytelling, Friday 27 September, 10.30am-3.45pm
2. Turn your thesis into a book, Friday 11 October, 10.30am-3.45pm
3. Pitching to publishers, Friday 22 November, 10.30am-3.45pm
Aspect (A SHAPE Platform for Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation, and Transformation) training programmes
The latest Aspect Training cohorts are designed to support academics and professional support staff in developing the essential skills needed to thrive in the evolving SHAPE commercialisation landscape. LSE is an Aspect Hub member, which means LSE staff can access these courses for free.
Engaging with External Partners
This course provides practical tools to forge partnerships with external stakeholders — be it businesses, NGOs, or charities. It covers vital strategies in consultancy, Knowledge Exchange, R&D collaborations, and effective engagement, helping you extend the impact of your research far beyond the university walls. It will support the development of SHAPE skills in communication - engaging with diverse stakeholders, working with others - encouraging collaboration, decision-making - supporting informed choices on pathways to increase research impact, analysing, and adaptability and creativity.
This 10-hour interactive online course (including 4 hours of live training and 2-6 hours of self-learning) is ideal for those who want to learn how to engage external partners for scalable research impact. Upon completion, participants will receive a **micro-credential** validating their new skills. Hear from the course instructor Liz Flint on how you can benefit from this practical course: link to video
**Cohort 2**:
- Dates: 18 October & 1 November 2024
- Time: 14:00 – 16:00 GMT
- Register here using your university email
**Cohort 3**:
- Dates: 28 November & 5 December 2024
- Time: 10:00 – 12:00 GMT
- Register here using your university email
LinkedIn for SHAPE Academics
This course will help you harness the power of LinkedIn to build professional networks, promote research, and identify potential collaborators. It provides actionable strategies for optimising LinkedIn profiles, creating engaging content, and expanding digital networks to support academic and career growth. It will support the development of SHAPE skills in communication - engagement and profile optimisation strategies, working with others - fostering connections and collaborative opportunities on a global scale, decision-making - supporting informed choices on presenting your research and expanding your networks, and independence.
In just 4 hours of live online training, participants will learn how to use LinkedIn effectively and will earn a **micro-credential** that showcases their digital networking proficiency. Hear from the course instructor Dr Sarah Campbell on how you can benefit from this insightful course: link to video
**Cohort 2**:
- Dates: 24 & 31 October 2024
- Time: 14:00 – 16:00 GMT
- Register here using your university email
**Cohort 3**:
- Dates: 27 November & 4 December 2024
- Time: 14:00 – 16:00 GMT
- Register here using your university email
Are you an academic who wants to learn how to do commanding broadcast media interviews about your research?
Our one-to-one sessions with a professional trainer will continue in Winter Term 2025. Each session will run for approximately one and a half hours. The training will take place at a time agreed between you and the trainer.
If you are interested in signing up, or would like to discuss further, please contact Sue Windebank in the Media Relations Office on s.windebank@lse.ac.uk
KEI training resources
Catch up with previous sessions
Session One: Spotlight on trade publishing
Our new training series on the publishing process began with a spotlight on trade publishing, featuring Matthew Marland from RCW Literary Agency as well as Dr Tom Curran reflecting on his experience of trade publishing. The session includes a review of the current non-fiction market, an assessment of the difference between trade and academic publishers, a description about the role and value of an agent, and some tips for getting published. Read the notes from the session.
Session Two: Spotlight on open-access publishing
What's different about open-access books? How do you cover the costs of open-access? Does open-access mean online-only books? How does copyright work? LSE Press and academic colleagues with experience of open-access publishing reflect on what it might mean for you. Watch the recording, view the slides.
The Winter Term Participatory Research workshop series has come to an end. You can catch up with resources from the sessions below. A new Participatory Research Network channel has been launched on Teams to connect members of the LSE community who are doing and/or interested in participatory research. You can join the channel by following this link: LSE-Participatory-Research-Network (Team) | General | Microsoft Teams.
Session One: Navigating ethical issues in participatory research
Dr Sharmila Parmanand (LSE Department of Gender Studies) introduces ethical and methodological issues in Participatory Action Research across various stages of the research process, from developing and designing the research until after the research formally ends.
Watch the recording (LSE only)
Download slides
Session Two: Working with young people in participatory research, from recruitment to mapping methodologies
Dr Julia King and Olivia Theocharides-Feldman (LSE Cities) draw on their experience of running the ‘‘Young Researcher-in-Residence’’ and the ‘‘Making Space for Girls’’ projects to reflect on doing participatory research with young people.
Session Three: Using film in participatory research
Dr Baljit Kaur (LSE Department of Sociology) and Dr Sonja Marzi (University of Glasgow/Radboud University Nijmegen) give insights into using film as a creative method in participatory research. They draw on their experience of using film in participatory research projects to reflect on the opportunities and challenges it presents.
Watch the recording (LSE only)
Session Four: Doing effective participatory research in international contexts
Professor Danny Burns (Institute of Development Studies) and Professor Sandra Jovchelovitch (Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science) reflect on the process of doing effective participatory research in international contexts, including insights into navigating the challenges it can present.
Watch the recording (LSE only)
Session Six: Sense of an ending: bringing participatory research projects to a close
A panel discussion reflecting on the challenges of ‘‘ending’’ a participatory project in ways that are compatible with the commitments of participatory research, featuring speakers Hannah Cowan (KCL), Sharmila Parmanand (Department of Gender Studies, LSE), Kate Summers (Department of Methodology, LSE) and Anjali Sarker (AFSEE Senior Fellow), and chaired by Flora Cornish (Department of Methodology, LSE).
Listen to a recording of the session (LSE only)
Session Seven: Why are things this way? Using artistic practice in participatory research
Dr Eileen Alexander (LSE Department of Methodology) and Andy Sewell (artist and photographer) reflect on a creative participatory research project they have facilitated in Hackney, East London. Why are things this way? is a collaborative artwork created with six Hackney residents to explore the cost-of-living crisis and is on display in LSE’s Atrium Gallery from 4 March to 12 April 2024.
One of the challenges in communicating or engaging non-academic stakeholders with research in many areas, from climate change to taxation or immigration, can be the unpredictable and sometimes hostile response of those non-academic groups. In this session we will build the skills and confidence you need to navigate those responses, in the media, on social media, at public events and in policy engagement. Watch a recording (LSE only).
Private sector companies, public organisations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are looking for independent, unbiased, quality-driven solutions to the challenges they face. Consulting within an academic institution offers a way for researchers to apply their expertise to address these issues, generating real-world impact and at the same time an additional income beyond their salary. Download session slides to learn more about what “consultancy” involves, the opportunities available, and the support provided by LSE for it.
Lots of funding has a focus on the contribution of research to the economy and society, and to be successful in winning grant applications the possible impacts of your research and the ways in which you plan to achieve them need to be apparent throughout your grant applications. How do you go about building-in knowledge exchange into your plans and applications? How do you articulate your expected outcomes and desired impacts?
Watch the recording (LSE only) / download the slides from the Michaelmas Term 2021 session.
What kinds of small, but meaningful engagements can you make to increase the chances of your research having an impact? Join this session for some inspiration on effective but low cost knowledge exchange and impact activities, as well as advice on how to keep track of your engagement and impact.
Watch the recording (LSE only) / download the slides from the Michaelmas Term 2021 session.
Download slides
How can you best use social media (including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram) to engage audiences with your research?
Download slides - Abdey, Burn-Murdoch
How can you present your research, particularly your data, visually in a way that best engages a non-academic audience?
Dr James Abdey, Assistant Professorial Lecturer in the Department of Statistics John Burn-Murdoch, Senior Data-Visualisation Journalist at the Financial Times and Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the LSE Data Science Institute.
Other resources
The LSE Events team has put together some guidance on how, when and why researchers should think about events, as well as how to set up a Zoom meeting: Read more
If you are speaking at or chairing an online event, you can also download their Audio and Visual Speaker Reference Guide for tips about how to create the best visuals and audio from home.
You can also watch a video about running Zoom events.
LSE's Film and Audio team can provide advice on potential film projects. Check out their ten top tips for filming yourself when you can't get to a studio.
Read more or watch the video
Should you be blogging? Yes, if you want to maximise the impact of your work in academia and beyond. Explore the kinds of posts you might write; who you could write for (you don’t have to maintain your own platform); and how to get your work noticed.
Read more
How to build a project website within the CMS. What makes for good content? How should it be presented to be most engaging with the tools available? And how can you measure whether it is meeting your objectives?
Resources from this session
How to engage with local communities around research projects, and how you might link to policy engagement at a local level.
Resources from this session
Suggest a topic
If there is a particular skill you would like to develop please contact us at research.kei@lse.ac.uk and we can consider this in planning future training.
Equally, if you have a KEI success story to share then we would love to help you develop some training for others based on your experience.