Research and Innovation Services (RIS) are organising a programme of training for academic researchers that will introduce the principles of driving impact in social sciences and give you the tools that will help you with creating the most effective impact from your research.

This four-day in-person programme will enable academics and researchers to advance the opportunities for impact that they have identified and are working on.

Each session covers the content of the session topic, but also content important for the following part/s of the training course. Thus, it is essential to attend all the sessions to complete the course.

The four-day in-person programme will cover:

Session 1 - Diagnosing the Opportunity

Wednesday 1st March 9-4pm

Room 4049, Building 37, University Road, Southampton, England, SO17 1BJ.

• Defining the un-met need and understanding who has it

• Freedom to operate, protecting the idea and IP

• Why us? Who else could do this?

• What's our end game - what does success look like, for us?

Session 2 - Developing the Opportunity

Wednesday 15th March 9-4pm

Room 4013, Building 34, University Road, Southampton, England, SO17 1BJ.

• Defining the impact intervention - what don't we know? What could go wrong?

• Addressing information gaps and key risks

• Validating the opportunity with customers, users and partners

• Action planning for the key milestones on the road to impact.

Session 3 - Pathway to Impact

Wednesday 22nd March 9-4pm

Room 4013, Building 34, University Road, Southampton, England, SO17 1BJ.

• Route to impact - the different approaches, and their pros and cons

• Setting up and running a social enterprise. Building the team

• Financial planning, budgeting and resourcing. How to fund your social enterprise

• Branding and naming. How to stand out in a crowded space.

Session 4 - Pitching for Impact

Wednesday 29th March 9-4pm

Room 2019, Building 34, University Road, Southampton, England, SO17 1BJ.

• Pitch practice - how to communicate a social enterprise to external stakeholders

• Opportunity showcase - to an invited audience (Dragon's Den-style, but with 'friendly' dragons)

• Planning and executing next steps to impact.

Who is invited?

University of Southampton academics and researchers whose research has elements of Social Science, Arts or Humanities, and who want to drive from research to impact.

Why is this important?

Attendees will develop skills covering opportunity creation and maximisation, as well as guidance on how to protect their work, and prevent their research from obsolescence after the funding period has ended.

Tickets:

These trainings are partially funded by CRoSS award, and the series will be made available for free this academic year. The places are limited, and the priority will be given on the first-come-first-served basis.

Please note there is high number of people interested in this course and the spaces are limited. Please register as soon as possible to secure your place.

Driving Impact in Social Sciences: Accelerating + De-risking Opportunities