Civic research collaboration in Leeds

The University of Leeds and Leeds City Council benefit from a long-established collaborative relationship, yet the full extent of this was not previously apparent. LSSI carried out a Review to understand the extent of research-policy collaboration and identify ways of optimising partnerships between academics and local government officers.

Watch our short animation for an overview of the Review project.

LSSI’s report on the Review highlighted an impressive record of joint projects, which are delivering valuable social, environmental and economic impacts for the city and beyond, and a strong appetite for further collaborations.

Findings from the Review were used to inform a series of recommendations for fostering inter-organisational relationships and facilitating co-produced research. A Collaboration Reference Group, which includes senior representatives of both organisations, is now taking forward these recommendations on a phased basis.

You can read the Policy Leeds blogs here

Myth Busting about working with councils!

Myth Busting about working with universities!

If you would like to find out more please contact LSSI Manager, Cheryl Harris c.a.harris@leeds.ac.uk

Latest joint events

Researchers from the University and officers from Leeds City Council got together at workshops designed to identify shared priorities for co-produced research.The events were organised by LSSI to support the Collaboration Reference Group’s activities to support research-policy engagement across the two organisations.

A summary of the principals and themes that emerged from discussions at the two workshops is available here:

Report from December research-policy collaboration workshops

Social Science Videos

Following on from the Review of Collaborations work conducted by LSSI on behalf of the University in 2020, LSSI commissioned the production of three short videos to highlight best practice for research/policy collaboration between the University of Leeds and Leeds City Council. We are delighted to share with you these three video shorts, in which academics and Council officers alike discuss a variety of projects they have worked on together across a variety of topics. In these videos, colleagues come together to reflect on what made collaboration easier and more effective and close by providing useful tips for those interested in how to develop new, and build on existing, relationships going forward.

QuantiCode Collaboration - LSSI and Leeds City Council

Leeds City Council’s Museums and Galleries Collaboration

Sustainability and Air Quality Collaboration with Leeds City Council

Civic University Network

Putting collaborative research at the heart of civic engagement in Leeds

Read the Civic Universities Network article here

The MJ

The power of local knowledge

Read the MJ article here

Universities Policy Engagement Network

Optimising civic collaboration in Leeds

Read the UPEN article here

Yorkshire Universities

Collaboration is key: insight into civic partnerships in Leeds

Read the Yorkshire Universities article here

* With thanks to the following for their participation and support with the creation of these videos: Abigail Harrison Moore Professor of Art History and Museum Studies, UoL Yvonne Hardman, Head of Collections and Programmes at Leeds Museums & Galleries, LCC Roy Ruddle, Professor of Computing, UoL Dr Jan Palczewski, Associate Professor of Mathematics, UoL Will Ridge, Integrated Business Intelligence Manager, LCC Polly Cook, Chief Officer for Sustainable Energy and Air Quality, LCC Dr Cat Scott, University Academic Fellow in Biosphere-Climate Interactions, UoL Dr James Tate, Associate Professor in Institute for Transport Studies, UoL Dr Nicola Carroll, Former Post-doctoral Research Assistant, LSSI (UoL) Gina Hardcastle, Communications and Graduate Coordinator, LSSI (UoL)