Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods
Sefydliad Ymchwill Gymdeithasol ac Economaidd, Data a Dulliau Cymru
www.wiserd.ac.uk

Knowledge Exchange Programme

WISERD is working closely with colleagues within the Welsh Government on a knowledge exchange and transfer programme. The purpose of the programme is to strengthen knowledge exchange between the Welsh Government and the academic sector, with a particular emphasis on social science research and capability within Wales. The programme aims to maximise the value of analytical knowledge and capability, helping to maximise cooperation between sectors and reduce duplication.

Aims

More effective knowledge exchange will bring a number of benefits:-

  • Development of research and data that is relevant and useful, that informs policy and service development, delivery and evaluation
  • Ensuring that policy makers are connected to the latest evidence, including emerging issues and trends
  • Increased innovation through the exchange of ideas and information
  • Greater cooperation and understanding between sectors
  • Collaboration on projects of mutual interest
  • Enhanced analytical skills and capacity

The programme aims to maximise the value of Welsh social science knowledge and social scientific capability. This will prevent duplication, and maximise cooperation in both sectors with the aim of enhancing policy and services at national, regional and local levels and improving outcomes for the people of Wales.

Priorities

The programme is focused on key cross cutting priorities, including:

  • maximising the use of existing data sets
  • behaviour change
  • measuring well-being
  • demographic change

Activities

Improved liaison between Welsh Government, universities and research funders, facilitated by:

  • Review and renewal of the WG/ESRC concordat
  • The WG are represented on WISERD’s Advisory Board
  • Regular meetings are held between the WG Knowledge Exchange Manager and ESRC Knowledge Exchange Manager
  • Regular meetings held between WG Knowledge Exchange Manager and WISERD Director and Director of Operations
  • The WG is carrying out a mapping exercise of major research centres/networks
  • WG colleagues are members of WISERD Thematic Reference Networks

To facilitate the connection of WG policy makers to the latest research findings a programme of evidence symposia has been developed. This brings together academics and senior WG policy officials and analysts to explore the evidence base on key cross cutting issues. The first symposium, held in September 2010, was on the theme of behaviour change, and a further event on measuring wellbeing was held in March 2011, for further information on these events please click here. A number of future symposia are currently being planned.

Facilitating stakeholder input into WG analytical programmes. In July 2010 a “sharing priorities” meeting was organised with representatives from WISERD and the Office of National Statistics. This meeting facilitated discussion between the organisations and has been followed up in 2011 by a series of events run through WISERD’s thematic groups including a successful event held by the WISERD Environment Tourism and Leisure Thematic Group, for further information click here.

Improving the WG’s evidence base:

  • The WG has recently advertised for 4 ESRC co-funded placement fellows to support a Maximising Data Use programme.
  • Follow-up work is being carried out to the behaviour change symposium (possibly a placement fellow to support the development and evaluation of a pilot project)
  • The WG is considering recruitment of ESRC PhD interns to support a number of research projects.
  • Work is underway to set up a call-off contract for flexible analytical support.
  • The WG is piloting peer review of its social research reports.
  • The WG is working to improve its contractor guidance.
  • Work is underway to develop opportunities for the joint funding of research/analysis

Strengthen WG analytical skills/professional experience:-

  • Work is currently underway to develop out-going placement and secondment opportunities for WG analysts.
  • The WG is involved in discussions with Welsh Universities and the ONS on the provision of any training for WG analysts