University Engagement Award

Definition

One award is made to an individual or a group of individuals who demonstrate exceptional and/or innovative 'engagement' practices.

Selection

Deans are invited to ask Faculty Education Directors to co-ordinate the nomination of one individual, or one team, to go forward to the final stage of award. The Faculty need not nominate an individual or team for the award if: no candidates come forward, or, it is felt that the candidates do not meet the quality threshold.
A panel will be convened from the Engaged University Steering Group to decide which individual or group of individuals should receive the award.

Criteria for Award

The award will be given to the project/activity which is excellent in respect of the characteristics for the Engaged University which are described in the University's Vision and Strategy for the Engaged University. Evidence of collaboration involving academics and support service divisions will also be a factor in the decision.

Following the presentation of an award, an individual may not be nominated for a further three years.

Process for Award

Applicants should complete the relevant application form [word] stating how they meet the criteria for the award (max 1500 words). The statement should be evaluative and refer to evidence to support their case. Applicants should invite the relevant Head of Department to write a supporting statement (max 500 words) as part of their application. The form should then be sent to the Faculty Office by the stipulated deadline, electronically and in hard copy.
Faculties will determine, on the basis of the application forms received, which one individual or team will go forward to the University panel for consideration. Once this has been determined, the Faculty Education Director(s) will write a statement (max 500 words) in support of the successful application. Applicants should be informed of the outcome of the faculty stage.
Faculties should send an electronic copy of the completed successful application to Mike White (m.white@bris.ac.uk cc: esu-info@bris.ac.uk) in the Education Support Unit in early March 2011 (exact date to be confirmed). The completed application should also be returned to the successful applicant.
The judging panel will consider the applications (with supporting statements) and judge the one winner in relation to the criteria. Applicants will be informed by e-mail of the decision of the panel.
Awards will be presented to the winners at the University's Learning & Teaching Exhibition.

University Engagement Award application form [word]

Further Information

The Engaged University Report promotes the aspiration of ensuring: "that the University of Bristol is a responsible member of the community by supporting the social, cultural and educational infrastructure of the region through programmes of engagement and dialogue. We should work collaboratively with all sections of the community to improve our links with people and organisations in and around Bristol, to communicate the University's research findings and to encourage lifelong learning and wider participation in higher education."

The report also argues that such a university is:

engaged with the public about its research and scholarship because it is proud of its work and because it values openness and accountability
engaged with the public because it believes that it can be valuable to researchers to hear other people's perspectives and points of view
engaged with the ways people lead their lives and keen to provide a variety of convenient routes through which they can join the University
engaged with other organisations' need for staff who are heading for the top of their professions
engaged with the needs, interests and aspirations of the city of Bristol and its region
engaged with people's concerns about research and keen to widen debate about the application of research to include public voices.

The awards will be presented to recognise engagement achievement in any of a wide range of areas which relate to research and teaching across the University. The critical factor is that the activity should involve promoting engagement with some part of the broad community with which the University seeks to relate. Activities might fall within a variety of categories including:

Communication of research findings to the public
Service learning and community-based learning
Volunteering
Outreach
Lifelong learning (from short courses for the public through to part-time degrees)
Development of flexible/partnership programmes which enable participation of non-traditional learners.
Engaged research (where there is a community need and/or involvement)
Social enterprise and knowledge exchange

It is recognised that there is a variety of types of engagement activities ranging from one-off events to longitudinal programmes and that not all the following considerations will apply to every activity, particularly if the activity is ongoing, but it would help the panel to reach its decision if the description section of the form could take account of some or all of the following questions.

What were the aims and objectives of the activity/project?
How did the project involve research and/or teaching and learning?
Was the engagement activity/project a one-off event or part of a larger strategic programme?
What stakeholders were involved?
Did the activity/project include both staff and students?
What was the role of external stakeholders/partners?
How did the activity/project engage both internal and external stakeholders?
How well were the aims and objectives of the activity/project met?
What was the impact of the activity/project on all stakeholders?
How sustainable were outcomes/impacts of the activity/projects?
What lessons were learned which could inform future similar activities or projects?
Did the activity/project highlight aspects of good engagement practice which could be shared across the University?

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