The Faculty’s Social Responsibility (SR) and Civic Engagement (CE) plan outlines our commitment to driving positive environmental and social change for our local and global communities through our world-leading teaching, learning and research. To support this, the patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) forum, Co-Chaired by Dr Karolina Kluk-De Kort, (interim co-chair) and Kay Gallacher, public contributor (PC), brings together PCs, University staff and students and external stakeholders to discuss and shape the Faculty’s PPIE priorities.  

The second forum of the 2024-25 academic year was held online in January. The forum began with a presentation from guest speaker Laura Breen, Research Development and Impact Manager at the University. Laura offered insight into her work on the Participatory Research project, created in collaboration with UKRI to fund co-produced research activities.  

The project aims to have a sustained impact across the University, with a focus on positive communication and guidance to support greater collaboration. Forum members appreciated the scope of the project and underlined the importance of language when connecting with diverse audiences. 

Hawys Williams, Social Responsibility and Public Engagement Manager provided an update on the Faculty’s fees and payments working group. The group was set up to review processes for paying public contributors. The group have identified the need for updated guidance for the reimbursement systems currently in place. Hawys emphasised the importance of a flexible, responsive system, and will continue to provide updates to forum members.  

Following this, Karolina delivered an update on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). The faculty will be hosting a hybrid International Women’s Day event on Thursday, 13 March. The keynote speech will be delivered by Dr Claire Malone, who will focus on the theme, ‘Going Slow the Accelerate: Making Space for Everyone in Science’. Tickets for the free event are available on Eventbrite. 

Members also voted in favour of hosting a 2025 PPIE celebration event to celebrate the positive impact of PPIE across the faculty and to provide our PPIE community a chance to network.  Last year’s event focused on the theme of ‘PPIE past, present and future’ to mark the University’s 200th anniversary.  

Prof Ellen Poliakoff then offered a brief update on her Open Research Fellowship, which focuses on researching transparency in co-produced research. Ellen’s aim is to share Open Research Principles with public contributors. 

Finally, members heard from Kay, Hawys, and Sam Franklin. They have created a digital version of their PPIE Quality Mark, which can be used to self-evaluate PPIE initiatives. Once the digital tool has been signed off, they aim to embed the quality mark within research and teaching in the faculty. Further information will be circulated across the Faculty shortly. 

For information on previous Forums visit: November 2024, March 2024,  January 2024, October 2023, February 2023, November 2022, March 2022, and January 2022. To find out more about PPIE: watch our short film,  sign up to the monthly Public Engagement Digest, visit the PPIE blog, or contact srbmh@manchester.ac.uk. 

Related