Abstract
Engagement drives a strong research culture, fostering collaboration, impact, and sus-tainability. It enables integration by connecting early-career and senior researchers; enhances research outcomes; and creates more opportunities for funding. This cre-ates a more inclusive, diverse, and dynamic research ecosystem. Engaged research involves co-created research with stakeholders, e.g. communities, industries, and pol-icymakers, to provide tangible outcomes and impact.
TU Dublin has established an Engaged Research Network (ERN) to enable knowledge co-creation. The aim is to build its capacity for Engaged Research, with a focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It focuses on connecting and supporting staff and PhD students in that regard and developing and sharing resources and experi-ence. Full network meetings are scheduled twice a year, where the members identify priority initiatives to run. Working groups are established and supported to deliver outcomes from these initiatives during the year.
There are currently >130 ERN members, with 3 main working groups, which have delivered positive outcomes:
o Mentoring programme development (pilot programme is underway)
o Hackathon/themed networking events development (events on 2 themes have been supported, including a Greenhouse for Engaged Research in Education (GERE), and a collaboration with TU Dublin Radiation and Environmental Science Centre on research roundtables with researchers and community partners, on air, soil and water health)
o Network podcast series development (Pilot podcast is now available on Spotify)
This bottom-up approach to peer learning is effectively building supports for re-searchers to enhance their confidence and skills in engaged research, through the ERN.
TU Dublin has established an Engaged Research Network (ERN) to enable knowledge co-creation. The aim is to build its capacity for Engaged Research, with a focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It focuses on connecting and supporting staff and PhD students in that regard and developing and sharing resources and experi-ence. Full network meetings are scheduled twice a year, where the members identify priority initiatives to run. Working groups are established and supported to deliver outcomes from these initiatives during the year.
There are currently >130 ERN members, with 3 main working groups, which have delivered positive outcomes:
o Mentoring programme development (pilot programme is underway)
o Hackathon/themed networking events development (events on 2 themes have been supported, including a Greenhouse for Engaged Research in Education (GERE), and a collaboration with TU Dublin Radiation and Environmental Science Centre on research roundtables with researchers and community partners, on air, soil and water health)
o Network podcast series development (Pilot podcast is now available on Spotify)
This bottom-up approach to peer learning is effectively building supports for re-searchers to enhance their confidence and skills in engaged research, through the ERN.
| Original language | English (Ireland) |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 13 May 2025 |
| Event | All-Island Research Culture Network's 2025 Conference: Principles to Practice - Assembly Buildings, Belfast Duration: 13 May 2025 → 13 May 2025 https://www.ucd.ie/researchculture/network/researchcultureannualconferences/2025conference/ |
Conference
| Conference | All-Island Research Culture Network's 2025 Conference: Principles to Practice |
|---|---|
| City | Belfast |
| Period | 13/05/25 → 13/05/25 |
| Internet address |