Method: Participating in a Public Engagement Scheme

Skills required

The skills required depend on the scheme you are participating in. The great news is that many schemes will involve training and skills development as part of the programme induction. Skills requirements will also vary depending on your level of involvement in the scheme.

It is likely that you will need to:

Adapt your language to the needs of the audience and be able to pitch it at the right level.  

Be aware of different learning styles and use methods to make your presentations/workshops/other activities engaging for people with differing needs.  

Be able to reflect upon your own practice and to recognise when to seek advice or support.

Work effectively in partnership, and to understand the aims of the scheme and your role within it.

You may also be required to perform self-evaluations, keep records of your activities and use formal feedback mechanisms.

Method Description

Choosing a scheme

There are national schemes – that encourage participants from across the UK, local schemes that might operate in your region, and also institution specific schemes that are run by your HEI.

To decide what’s right for you – you need to think through your purpose, the type of engagement you would like to do, who you might like to work with and how much time you have to contribute.

Nor surprisingly different schemes vary in their expectations and the commitment required from joining volunteers, so before you sign up - find out what you would be expected to do. For example the STEM Ambassadors programme, which sends scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians into schools in their local region, expects participation in at least one activity in the first year of registration. After that, ambassadors are free to choose how much or how little they wish to do. RCUK’s Researchers in Residence programme, on the other hand, which organises school placements for researchers from all disciplines, expects a minimum of 14 hours engagement in a school in one academic year.

If you are not sure if a scheme is for you, ask around – you might be surprised how many of your colleagues have taken part in engagement projects and schemes. They might have some useful advice.

National Opportunities

There are a variety of national schemes you might be interested in joining. See here for details of some of these we know about.

Internal opportunities

Before you join an external scheme, you might want to consider looking a little closer to home. Most HEIs have Widening Participation or Outreach schemes. Some even have their own Aimhigher coordinators or their own university ambassador scheme. You can get involved with activities arranged by the coordinators for each of these schemes, without having to do the legwork. They can help you to get involved with visits to schools, host visits from school groups, take part in activities during open days and to join the cohort of exhibitors at festivals and other public events.

If your institution is also one of the Beacons for Public Engagement, the Beacon manager can also provide you with advice on local opportunities.

The registration process

Once you have decided which scheme you would like to join, you will need to go through a registration process, often accompanied by a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) Disclosure. (This is particularly likely in cases where the scheme involves engagement with young people).

For a CRB disclosure you will need to provide:

• Your address history
• Proof of address e.g. utility bills
• Photographic ID e.g. passport, driving license

CRB checks are usually returned within 3-8 weeks for schemes which follow the paper disclosure process. However, some larger, national, schemes, who manage large numbers of volunteers, complete online CRB disclosures. These can be returned as early as 1-3 weeks.

Once you are registered, many schemes will expect you to attend training or an induction session. This can be very useful in giving you an overview of the scheme’s aims but also in terms of equipping you with the skills and confidence necessary for engaging with different audiences.

Taking Part

Once you have registered, think about what you would like to get out of your participation. Find out your key contact for the scheme and talk to them. Tell them what you want to do and ask for their advice on next steps. They will be able to give you ideas, introduce you to new people and tell you about opportunities to get involved. Remember, the people running the scheme are experienced in the field of engagement and have useful contacts. They are there to help – use them.

Make the most of the person, or people, who are administering the scheme. They can help you with your preparations e.g. if you are visiting a school they can contact the school and make appropriate arrangements. 

Remember - you will be informed of opportunities to get involved but this doesn’t mean that you can’t develop some ideas of your own.

Gathering Feedback

You may be asked to provide feedback about your activities and experiences. You may even be expected to sign up to a database and keep your ‘profile’ updated. Do remember that the scheme itself has aims and objectives and the administrators need to be aware of what their volunteers are doing.

You may also be asked to gather evaluation data. Don’t be afraid of evaluation. The scheme needs to evaluate itself and share learning – it is not about evaluating your worth as a volunteer. Besides, self-reflection and sharing examples of best practice can only make us better engagers.

What it can be used for

• Participation in someone else’s scheme will:
• Provide you with support and guidance for your first forays into public engagement
• Provide you with specialist training to build on your skills portfolio and give you the confidence to take part in public engagement activities
• Help with the administration of setting up a public engagement activity i.e. the scheme administrator may contact schools or other groups and make arrangements on your behalf
• Introduce you to different events and opportunities you can get involved with and connect you to the public engagement community at large
• Build up your experience and standing as an engaging researcher, through the kudos of having worked with a recognised scheme
• Introduce you to other researchers and key contacts, allowing you to build up a network of potential partners
• Give you ideas for thinking about your own research and the type of activities you can run

Cost and time requirements

Example costs

There may be costs associated with your participation in the scheme but these will vary depending on what you do and whether the scheme pays expenses. Costs may involve the cost of travel to venues and the cost of consumables for workshops and demonstrations. Most schemes are voluntary, so you are likely to be expected to give up your time for free.

Example timings

Timings depend largely on the scheme itself.  For example STEM Ambassadors require 3-4 weeks for registration, with one activity as a minimum requirement. Researchers in Residence on the other hand can take months before a researcher is matched with a school. Also, the time of year can make a difference e.g. schemes which involve engaging with schools tend to be busier in July than September.

Staff time needed: Variable – you can decide your level of participation. But some schemes have minimum requirements.