• "Aspect is changing the way people gain recognition for their role in SHAPE"

    We’re dedicated to training opportunities that foster collective growth in SHAPE research innovation

    Aspect training is for professionals, academics, and the public, united in our mission to share experiences, ideas, strategies, and learnings

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    • Gain practical insights into pathways like consultancy, Knowledge Exchange, and contract research, and how these pathways for engaging with partners (including businesses, NGOs, and charities) can help to scale research and its impact. To support those new to these topics, we provide a pre-course offline training module, ensuring participants are well-prepared. In the live course, participants will learn tools for effective engagement with stakeholders for successful outcomes. This ten-hour interactive online course (four hours of live training and an expectation of two to six hours of self-learning) offers essential strategies for navigating communication routes within academic and professional contexts, validated by an Aspect micro-credential highlighting the skills developed.

      For further details and to register click here.

    • Master LinkedIn’s power for academic and professional growth. Learn to set up your profile, promote research, identify collaborators, and expand professional networks effectively. Real-life examples and best practices ensure a comprehensive understanding. Join this five-hour online course to optimise your LinkedIn presence and receive an Aspect micro-credential, validating enhanced proficiency.

      For further details and to register click here.

    • This six-session online workshop series offers hands-on training in digital tools, empowering you to effectively communicate research, engage wider audiences, and create scalable impact. Whether participants are just starting out or looking to enhance existing skills, these sessions will provide actionable knowledge to boost their academic and professional profile.

      For further details and to register click here.

    • We’re pioneering the recognition of roles and activities within SHAPE through Aspect micro-credentials. These blockchain-based micro-credentials produced in collaboration with getTWOit Platforms detail the skills gained across our training and initiatives, so you as a learner can clearly see the skills you are developing and your strengths and weaknesses.

    Self-learning

    Recognising the demands of busy schedules and global time zones, we offer online training materials for Aspect Members to access at their convenience. Developed collaboratively to empower academics and professional support staff, our suite of resources includes pathways like The Social Venture Pathway, helping academics launch their own social ventures; the Games Development Pathway, offering insights from industry and academic professionals of converting research into both tabletop and digital video games, and Building on ABC developed by Aspect Members the University of Oxford, The University of Edinburgh, The University of Glasgow, University of Birmingham, York University, and Durham University providing a comprehensive knowledge exchange training programme.  We also collaborate with a number of external organisations to share their learnings, with courses on embedding sustainability, legal structures for ventures and tools for effective project communication and marketing

    Collective-learning

    Since our inception, we’ve championed experimentation and collaborative learning to foster SHAPE ventures’ growth. Uniquely, our network is built by members, ensuring that our collective knowledge is shared and utilised for the benefit of all. Our upcoming training sessions cover topics such as the nuances of licensing, consultancy, and contract research; strategies to promote research, identify collaborators, and enhancing scholarly impact on LinkedIn, and approaches to structuring CPD programmes, leveraging research outcomes, and engaging partners effectively, all designed to enhance skills and impact. These training sessions are held online with time commitments from four hours to 10 depending on the course. As with all of our training, participants will be issued with micro-credentials via our Smart Badges upon completion to attest to the knowledge and skills gained

     

    Watch, Listen, Read

    Since 2018, our members have been actively collaborating on the development of resources and materials derived from the Aspect Testbed projects

    These initiatives provide valuable insights, tools, and resources to navigate the dynamic SHAPE ecosystem, empowering individuals and organisations to maximise positive impact from SHAPE research

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    258 Resources | Page 11 of 15

    Webinar recording: Training researchers to become consultants

    How to train social science researchers to become consultants

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    Webinar recording: Poverty measurement research

    Taking poverty measurement research into the private sector

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    Webinar recording: How can social scientists engage business?

    Exploring the top three success factors for effective engagement

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    Methods for Change team profile: Laura Pottinger

    Dr Laura Pottinger tells us about her research using ethnographic and participatory methodologies

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    Webinar recording: Data, IP and commercialisation

    How to use third-party data lawfully, and protect your intellectual output.

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    Healthy ageing and the importance of social sciences

    We spoke to Dr Tim Pascoe about the Digital Access Project and its link with social sciences

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    Creative Challenge Series – session content

    Access a diverse mix of insight from the Creative Challenge Series of talks

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    Supporting entrepreneurship remotely

    LSE’s approach to developing a virtual hub

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    How are the social sciences responding to COVID-19?

    How Aspect member institutions are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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    Webinar slides – Combatting misinformation online

    Combatting misinformation online: The role and relevance of the social sciences

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    Webinar recording: Driving entrepreneurship in the social sciences

    A discussion of best practice in driving entrepreneurship

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    Webinar recording: Creating ventures during COVID-19

    Creating ventures during COVID-19: Challenges and opportunities

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    The importance of social sciences to international development

    Interview with Stephan John, Department for International Trade

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    Webinar recording: Effective university-business engagement

    FinTech: A good practice example of effective university-business engagement

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    Webinar recording: The crucial role of SMEs

    Could small and medium size businesses be the key to sustaining the economy and our communities?

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    Community safety and social sciences

    An interview with John Strutton from The Institute of Community Safety.

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    Webinar Recording: Operationalising intrapreneurship

    A practical guide to operationalising intrapreneurship

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    Methods for Change team profile: Amy Barron

    Cultural and Social geographer Dr Amy Barron tells us about her research using arts-based, ethnographic methods

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    258 Resources | Page 11 of 15

    Toolkit

    The Aspect toolkit captures the lessons learned during Aspect’s first three years, disseminating shared knowledge and providing practical guidance that other institutions can use for inspiration in their own activities

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    Join us in contributing to solutions for the global challenges we encounter. Reach out to us today to discover how the Aspect Network can support you

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