Training and capacity building
Training, capacity building and continuing professional development from the UCL Centre for Responsible Innovation
The UCL Centre for Responsible Innovation provides training and workshops for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at UCL and for universities and firms across the United Kingdom. Undergraduate and postgraduate (taught) students enrolled at the Department of Science and Technology Studies (and often right across UCL) can take advantage of our research-led teaching which is embedded across UCL STS' degree programmes. We also teach directly into technical and scientific disciplines such as UCL's Integrated Engineering Programme - for instance Responsible Design: Engineering Engagement (HPSC0142).
If you run a teaching programme at UCL, or are enrolled as a student on one, and would like to talk to us about Responsible Innovation training, please get in touch.
Short courses for doctoral training and researchers
The Centre provides specialist training and short courses for UKRI Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) based at UCL and for CDTs across the United Kingdom. We have trained more than 1,000 PhD students in recent years. We teach across eleven of UCL’s EPSRC funded CDTs including those jointly run with the University of Cambridge (CDT for Electronic & Photonic Systems), Cardiff University (Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing), Loughborough University (Energy Resilience and the Built Environment), the University of Manchester (BioDesign) and Imperial College London (BioDesign).
If you'd like to talk about how we can help your doctoral cohort, or partner on proposals for future doctoral training please email us at .responsible-innovation@ucl.ac.uk.
Executive education short courses
We run executive education short courses for professionals across sectors such as transport, health, finance, and construction.
Our fully online, CPD Certified, short courses provide an introduction to the AREA Framework for approaching innovation responsibly and use real-world historical and philosophical case studies to teach you how to think about your work reflectively. You will learn how to recognise the need for socially responsible solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing society (e.g. climate change), and join a growing community of scientists and engineers who are skilled in responsible innovation.
For more information on these courses for industry professionals or our CDT training, please email us at .responsible-innovation@ucl.ac.uk
Why build capacity for responsible innovation?
Responsible Innovation isn’t easy.
Innovations typically arise within contexts of uncertainty and change. They emerge within complex systems involving many different people, organisations, and infrastructures. Thinking responsibly within this complexity requires flexibility, creativity, and leadership. We need to acknowledge that responsibility is an ongoing process that must be able to respond to new or unexpected insights and events.
Responsible innovation is not just about anticipating unintended consequences.
It is also about reflecting on the intended outcomes. As researchers and innovators across medicine, manufacturing, digital technologies, food production, and many other sectors are shaping the future, we might want to first ask: what do we want the future to look like? Responsible innovation urges us to reflect on what kind of world we want to live in and who should be involved in designing it.
Engagement and communication are essential for answering these questions.
We must take the time to consider, as early in the innovation process as possible, who needs to be involved in the design process. Diversity and inclusivity are key, here - we will need a diverse range of perspectives to imagine fairer, more equitable and sustainable futures. Once we have a sense of where we are going, then we can begin to use our expertise and resources to build a better world for everyone.
Our courses in responsible innovation prepare researchers, innovators, and business leaders to:
- Anticipate and creatively respond to changing circumstances
- Critically reflect on their values and the impacts of their work
- Engage and communicate with relevant stakeholders
- Lead institutional cultures that are equitable, inclusive, and socially responsive
Student testimonials
Hear from Responsible Innovation Foundations course students as they discuss their experience of studing with us
“I really enjoyed the course and am very grateful for the many insights I got. It was a fun, inspiring, and thought-provoking experience. The course is very well designed and gives you the time and space to reflect on responsible research and innovation, both in general but also in your own research. I would highly recommend this course to my colleagues and friends... It really was the best virtual course I have ever taken"
I found the Responsible Innovation course to be thought provoking and inspiring. It got me to think about aspects that I had not considered about my research and about my responsibilities as a researcher. It was very interesting to work through the challenges and engage in a discussion with my peers. Moving forward, I am very keen on undertaking my research with responsible innovation as a guiding principle.
Responsible Innovation has allowed me to think beyond my day-to-day research area. I now understand better the importance of ethical research and believe in taking ownership of my research decision. The case studies presented has allowed me to think more critically of what is happening around us in a larger picture and how I should act as a responsible innovator.
