Train and Engage is our flagship training and funding programme for UCL postgraduate research students. This series of sessions is tailored to support UCL postgraduate research students interested in developing and applying their public engagement knowledge and skills. The interactive sessions provide practical opportunities to explore the variety of ways in which researchers can effectively interact with and involve public groups, and to apply for money to run their own activities.

The sessions are open to students of all backgrounds and levels of experience.

Participants will complete a series of weekly online practical group sessions and self-guided information sessions running over 5-6 weeks in July and August 2021.

This course covers:

• An introduction to public engagement and related terms
• An introduction to some of the practical approaches and methods for public engagement
• How to think through project design, management and evaluation
• Sourcing funding and securing further engagement experience

Those completing the training will be eligible to apply for Public Engagement grants of up to £1,000.

Session Dates

The course comprises six core sessions. This includes three online modules that you can complete in your own time and three face-to-face sessions (each run twice- select day and time appropriate for you). These first six sessions are compulsory for course accreditation. There will also be an optional seventh session which will present some funding and further training opportunities available.

Session 1 - w/c 19th July:  Introduction to PE (online module accessible last week of July)

Session 2 - Practical PE (live sessions) 

• 28th July: 14.00 - 16.00 or 30th July: 10.00 - 12.00

Session 3- w/c 2nd Aug: PE as part of your research grant (online module)

Session 4- w/c 2nd Aug: Practical skills for PE (online module)

Session 5- Challenge sessions (live sessions)

• 9th Aug: 14.00 - 16.00 or 11th Aug: 10.30 - 12.30

Session 6 w/c 16th Aug: Project management and evaluation in PE (live sessions)

• 16th Aug: 10.00 - 12.00 or 19th Aug: 10.00 - 12.00

Session 7- w/c 23rd Aug: Funding for PE (optional live session(s))

• 26th Aug: 10.00 - 11.00

Sign up via Inkpath here (Please make sure you are on a UCL network). 

Funding

Once you have completed all core Train and Engage sessions, you can apply for up to £1000 of funding to implement your public engagement ideas. Funded projects are supported by the UCL Engagement Team with advice, experience and resources to help as you design, develop, deliver and evaluate your project.

We have a document answering some practical questions about receiving and spending the funding.

In July 2020 we funded 7 projects. Read more about them here.

For questions, queries or concerns contact: publicengagement@ucl.ac.uk.