UCL Public Engagement Unit

Train and Engage provides postgraduate research students with the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £750 (funded by The Wellcome Trust) for activities that involve people outside the university.

Alongside the funding available, the Train and Engage programme provides training, advice, guidance and resources to support you in designing, developing and delivering your own public engagement project. This year, the training workshops were held in May 2013.

The deadline for applications to Train and Engage SLMS is 5pm on Friday 19th July 2013.

To apply, you will need to read the application guidance and complete the form by the deadline. Priority is given to applicants who attended the training workshops. Please submit all applications electronically to kimberley.freeman@ucl.ac.uk

• Download the application guidance (PDF)
• Download the application form (MS Word)

You are also strongly encouraged to discuss your application with Kimberley Freeman, Public Engagement Coordinator for SLMS, in advance of the deadline.

• kimberley.freeman@ucl.ac.uk

The training workshops were:
An introduction to public engagement
Wednesday 8th May, 2-4pm
Venue: Roberts 110

In this session you will explore what public engagement is, and why universities engage with the public; examine innovative ways to discuss your research area with the public; and be introduced to a range of methods and techniques for engaging specific audiences.

Planning and evaluating projects: a 'how to' guide
Wednesday 15th May, 2-4pm

Venue: Roberts 110

Session 2 is your chance to learn some relevant project management skills, explore aims and objectives, and get some ideas about how to evaluate public engagement activities. These are essential tools to ensure your project is useful both to you and to public participants.

Developing your own public engagement project
Wednesday 22nd May, 2-4pm

Venue: Roberts 110

In this session you will develop your ideas for a public engagement project into a funding proposal, building on sessions 1 and 2. It's also an opportunity to find out more about the tools and resources for planning and delivering effective engagement projects.

Each training workshop is assigned a number of points. At UCL, it is now mandatory for all Research Council funded research students to undertake the equivalent of 2 weeks of skills training per year (20 points per year). More information is available on the Training Requirements for Research Students section of the Graduate School website.

This project builds on previous successful Train and Engage programmes run for postgraduate students in all three of UCL's schools, as well as a pilot project for Arts and Humanities students at UCL and Birkbeck.

Are you a postgraduate research student studying at UCL? Do you have an idea for a project or activity that will help you to connect your studies with people outside the university? Do you want a more fulfilling student experience? Would you like to develop your public engagement skills?

If the answer is yes to any of those questions, read on.

UCL’s Public Engagement Unit brings you the Train and Engage programme. Train and Engage provides postgraduate research students with the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £750 for activities that involve people outside the university.

Alongside the funding available, Train and Engage provides training, advice, guidance and resources to support you in designing, developing and delivering your own public engagement project.

The interactive sessions are delivered by the UCL Public Engagement Unit and feature training and group work as well as short talks from UCL students and staff who are experienced in public engagement.

Train and Engage is delivered separately for each of the three schools at UCL. The next set of training in the Bartlett, Engineering, and Mathematical and Physical Sciences faculties (BEAMS school) will take place in the academic year 2013-14.

The deadline for applications to Train and Engage (BEAMS) 2012-13 has now passed.

The latest versions of the application guidance and form for Train and Engage (BEAMS) are included here for reference. Priority is given to applicants who attended the training workshops. Students who attend the workshops are eligible for funding in subsequent years.

• Download the application guidance (PDF)
• Download the application form (MS Word)

Three training workshops were run in spring term 2013:

An introduction to public engagement
Wednesday 6 March, 1-3pm

In this session you will explore what public engagement is, and why universities engage with the public; examine innovative ways to discuss your research area with the public; and be introduced to a range of methods and techniques for engaging specific audiences.

Planning and evaluating projects: a 'how to' guide
Wednesday 13 March, 1-3pm

Session 2 is your chance to learn some relevant project management skills, explore aims and objectives, and get some ideas about how to evaluate public engagement activities. These are essential tools to ensure your project is useful both to you and to public participants.

Developing your own public engagement project
Wednesday 20 March, 1-3pm

In this session you will develop your ideas for a public engagement project into a funding proposal, building on sessions 1 and 2. It's also an opportunity to find out more about the tools and resources for planning and delivering effective engagement projects.

Each training workshop is assigned a number of points. At UCL, it is now mandatory for all Research Council funded research students to undertake the equivalent of 2 weeks of skills training per year (20 points per year). More information is available on the Training Requirements for Research Students section of the Graduate School website.

This programme builds on previous successful Train and Engage programmes run for postgraduate students in all three of UCL's schools, as well as a pilot project for Arts and Humanities students at UCL and Birkbeck.

If you have any questions about Train and Engage in BEAMS, contact hilary.jackson@ucl.ac.uk.