Friday 26 May 2023
Join the Co(l)laboratory Community
We are thrilled to extend an invitation to Nottingham-based academics and community-focused organisations to participate in the next round of PhD research project co-creation and development with Co(l)laboratory. This development phase runs from June 2023 to September 2023. It is a crucial part of our program where we bring together Nottingham academics and a diverse range of partners from local community-focused organisations to collaborate in co-creating new PhD research projects that tackle challenges relevant to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire communities.
Who are we looking for?
1. Academic Researchers
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to become proactive members of a growing community of people who want to support real, meaningful change for Notts’ communities through research. We need academic colleagues from UoN and NTU who want to help us drive forward an agenda of community-engaged research, working alongside community partners who can provide a strong link to real-life practice and experiences that can help ensure our research is relevant and responsive to the needs of local communities.
Becoming Part of Co(l)laboratory as an Academic/ Researcher
For academics and researchers, Co(l)laboratory presents an opportunity to be part of a pioneering, cross-institutional project which is challenging the way that doctoral research is created, led, and delivered. Our highly collaborative approach creates opportunities for researchers to broaden their networks, skillsets, and experiences, as well as to help contribute to positive change within research and in our local communities. Through this, we aim to foster stronger connections between academics at NTU and UoN, support more embedded collaborations with external partners, and ultimately support the production of higher quality, more inclusive and therefore more impactful research. Furthermore, project teams, including their fully funded PhD candidates, will become part of a unique community of creative and innovative individuals and will receive dedicated support and resources focused on partnership management, civically engaged research and more.
2. Community-Focused Organisations
Co(l)laboratory’s funding remit focuses exclusively on addressing challenges that are relevant to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire communities. Any organisation that works with our local communities in some way, and that is based within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire is eligible to get involved. Community partners can represent various entities, including but not limited to large organisations such as NHS bodies and City or County Council departments, as well as smaller organisations like local charities, schools, and community interest groups. The key criterion is that the organisation’s work focuses on one or more local communities.
Becoming part of Co(l)laboratory as Community-Focused Organisation
Community partners on successfully funded projects will enjoy several unique opportunities and benefits resulting from their participation in the research:
• Joining a community of pioneering professionals: As community partners, you will become part of a growing network of professionals from local organisations who collaborate with us on research projects. We will provide direct support to foster knowledge sharing and best practices among the community partners, enabling you to make the most of your collaboration with Co(l)laboratory for the benefit of your organisation.
• Access to research training and resources: Community partners and their colleagues will have access to a tailored series of research skill CPD (Continuing Professional Development) sessions. These courses offer a practical introduction to fundamental research competencies, concepts, and tools that can be applied to address a wide range of challenges faced by community-focused organisations. Additionally, community partners will receive associate access accounts to both partner universities, providing direct access to world-class researcher development courses, academic resources, and more.
• Addressing challenges important to your organisation: By collaborating with university researchers in supporting and guiding a Co(l)laboratory PhD Research project, you will have the opportunity to address challenges that are relevant to your organisation and the communities you serve through the research projects.
How do I express my interest?
To get involved with our latest phase of PhD research project development and co-creation, please submit follow the link below to submit your details to our expression of interest form.
The Co(l)laboratory team will use these details to contact you about our information webinars and co-creation workshops, as well as to put you in contact with other potential academic and/or community partners with whom you might be interested in collaborating on a proposal.
For more details about why we create our projects this way, webinar dates and more, please visit our page here.