Current events, seminars and training

Our programme of events is designed for those all interested in social justice, participatory and community-based research and organising. Attendance is free of charge but booking is essential.

BOOKING A PLACE ON TRAINING EVENTS

Please email Catherine Laidlaw c.a.laidlaw@dur.ac.uk and give your full name, email and phone number, home/work address, please state which course you are interested in and if you have any dietary or physical requirements.

CSJCA Training Events in 2012

Developing policy and practice through participatory research

15^th May 2012, 14.00 - 16.30pm, Lindisfarne Centre, St Aidan's College

Led by Dr Andrew Orton

This workshop is designed for researchers who want to find ways to involve policy-makers and practitioners in research that helps to develop policy and practice.  Developing participatory approaches which involve policy-makers and practitioners can be an effective way of both carrying out and improving the impact of research.  However, it can also involve negotiating significant methodological, ethical and practical challenges when trying to use such approaches as the basis for developing policy and/or practice.  This workshop will draw on the experience of researchers who have negotiated these challenges, providing case studies as examples to stimulate reflection on what can help improve the effectiveness and impact of such approaches, and the barriers it can face, as well as exploring how these might be overcome.  It will also provide opportunities to reflect on learning that may improve any projects of this nature that you are considering, planning, designing or carrying out. 

This session is designed to complement the session on Participatory Action Research 2, by providing a specific focus on the relationship between participatory research, policy-making and practitioner development processes.  Staff are welcome to attend either or both sessions; they will include different content, but neither is a pre-requisite for the other.  A basic prior understanding of participatory research approaches may be helpful to those attending this session (e.g. from participants previously attending the session on Participatory Action Research 1), but this is not essential.

 FULLY BOOKED - Participatory Action Research 2: Embedding participation in research practice

18^th May 2012, 10.00 - 16.00, Joachim Room, College of St Hild and Bede

Led by Professor Rachel Pain

This workshop is designed for those who have taken the previous workshop "Participatory Action Research 1: Introduction". It aims to expand participants' understanding of using PAR, and examine strategies for extending and embedding participation in research practice in different contexts. The workshop is relevant to new and established researchers in universities, the voluntary and public sectors who have existing understanding of participatory principles, techniques and research approaches.

The workshop will cover:

• Working "with" not "on": engaging participants throughout research processes
• Widening the repertoire of participatory methods
• Ethical issues in participatory research
• Analysing the results of participatory research
• Turning research into action

Teaching and learning methods in the workshop include plenary presentation, group discussion and hands on-practical exercises. By the end of the day participants should feel confident in extending participatory approaches to research within the context they work in.

For more details on any of these training workshops, please contact, rachel.pain@durham.ac.uk or a.j.orton@durham.ac.uk at the Centre for Social Justice and Community Action, Durham University.

• Brochure revised (last modified: 1 May 2012)