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
About the Review of Collaboration
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 research-policy collaboration workshops (pdf), File Download
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.