Making the Connection: Lessons from the Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development, Memorial University Presentation to Making the Connection: Universities and Community Economic Development Fredericton, N.B., Oct. 18, 2011 Rob Greenwood, Ph.D. Director Overview • Harris Centre Overview • Knowledge Mobilization • Knowledge Mobilization • Programs & Initiatives • www.yaffle.ca • The Harris Centre as Broker • Conclusion: Key Points on Knowledge Conclusion: Key Points on Knowledge Sharing • Future Partnerships or Opportunities? 1
Memorial University Community / Regional Engagement • Faculties and Schools • Marine Institute • Marine Institute • Student Organizations (eg. SIFE) • Student Services, Service Learning • Grenfell Campus, Corner Brook • Labrador Institute • Genesis Group / Springboard • Gardiner Centre • International Centre • Etc., etc., etc . Harris Centre Mandate • Established October 2004 • Coordinate and Facilitate the University’s y Activities Relating to Regional Policy and Development • Advise on Building the University’s Capacity • Identify Priority Themes and Projects relating to: • Teaching • Research • Outreach • Emerging role: Honest Broker 2
Knowledge Mobilization: Harris Centre Perspective • Continuum of inside-out outside-in and co- • Continuum of inside-out, outside-in and co- production Ideally: • Engage stakeholders to define issues / needs / opportunities • Involve partners in knowledge generation • Ground-truth findings to inform conclusions • Recognize independence of researcher • Dissemination / application have many champions… Harris Centre Knowledge Mobilization Programs and Initiatives • Public Presentations • Invitation only Sessions • Invitation-only Sessions • Targeted Research Funding • Knowledge Exchange • Packaging Research to Meet Needs • Regional Workshops • New Opportunity Identification: “one-pagers” • Yaffle.ca 3
Responding to the Community: Example Leading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA) Exploits Valley Regional Economic Development Board Requests Graduate S tudent research related to Leading research related to Leading Tickles MP A Responding to the Community: Example Leading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA) Harris Centre circulates “ one pager ” on opportunity Exploits Valley Regional Economic Development Board R equests Graduate S tudent Biology faculty member research related to Leading Tickles MP A responds responds 4
Responding to the Community: Example Leading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA) Exploits Valley Regional Harris Centre circulates “ one pager ” on opportunity Economic Development Board Board R equests Graduate S tudent Biology faculty member research related to Leading responds Tickles MP A Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) presents and Oceans (DFO) presents MPA needs Faculty / graduate student work on proposals Responding to the Community: Example Leading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA) Exploits Valley Regional Harris Centre circulates Department of Fisheries “ one pager ” on opportunity Economic Development and Oceans (DFO) presents Board MPA needs R equests Graduate S tudent Biology faculty member Faculty / graduate student work research related to Leading responds on proposals Tickles MP A Three proposals presented to DFO DFO funds faculty / graduate student research (capelin, lobster, herring) 5
Responding to the Community: Example Leading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA) Exploits Valley Regional Harris Centre circulates Department of Fisheries “ one pager ” on opportunity Economic Development and Oceans (DFO) presents Board MPA needs R equests Graduate S tudent Biology faculty member Faculty / graduate student work research related to Leading responds on proposals Tickles MP A Harris Centre brokers long- Three proposals presented to DFO term relationship DFO funds faculty / graduate DFO funds faculty / graduate student research (capelin, lobster, herring) DFO - Memorial collaborative research A ’ s agreement on MP Responding to the Community: Example Leading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA) Exploits Valley Regional Harris Centre circulates Department of Fisheries “ one pager ” on opportunity one pager on opportunity Economic Development Economic Development and Oceans (DFO) presents and Oceans (DFO) presents Board MPA needs R equests Graduate S tudent Biology faculty member Faculty / graduate student work research related to Leading responds on proposals Tickles MP A Three proposals presented Harris Centre brokers The results to DFO to DFO long term relationship long-term relationship Funding for graduate student DFO funds faculty / graduate research DFO - Memorial collaborative student research (capelin, A ’ s research agreement on MP A ’ s for improved R esearch on MP lobster, herring) fishery/ coastal sustainability 6
One-pager Successes • Over 75 faculty connected; • New ferry design for Strait of Belle Isle; • Th Theatre training with kids in Lab West; t t i i ith kid i L b W t • Studying Boom and Bust in Northern Mining Towns (SSHRC); • Alternate energy in two northern Labrador communities; • Studying male underachievement in the education system; • Four seminars on e-marketing (paired leaders), approx 200 businesses; • SIFE student team working with aboriginal youth on financial sustainability of a cultural museum; sustainability of a cultural museum; • Dialogues (e.g., regional cooperation, historical significance); • Feasibility Studies (Bottled Water, Bacon-Wrapped Scallops); • KT: (e.g., Agriculture in Stephenville; sheep farmers coyote management in Placentia) A ‘ ma rke tpla c e ’ fo r info rma tio n 7
Yaffle Today • Ove r 95,000 se a rc he s sinc e pub lic la unc h (F e b . 2009) • A Ac c e sse d fro m 181 c o untrie s o ve r 6 c o ntine nts d f 181 t i 6 ti t • Ave ra g e o f 125 use rs pe r da y • Gra dua te Stude nts using Ya ffle fo r the sis to pic s • MI T ACS I de ntific a tio n o f I nte rnships • Go ve rnme nt, Co mmunity a nd Me dia c o nsta nt use rs • 2011 (so fa r) – o ve r 20 ne w b ro ke re d pro je c ts ( f ) j Yaffle Statistics & Next Steps • 1550+ L a y Summa rie s • 150+ Oppo rtunitie s • 150+ Oppo rtunitie s • 900+ Re se a rc he r a nd Sta ff E xpe rtise Pro file s • Unive rsity o f Alb e rta inte re st in a do pting Ya ffle ; disc ussio ns unde r wa y • E xte nsio n o f Ya ffle o utside Me mo ria l to re se a rc h a nd kno wle dg e mo b iliza tio n pa rtne rs within NL 8
Harris Knowledge Mobilization Process The Harris Centre as Broker • Mirrors Marketing Function: Need to Identify 3 Components: • Demand: research, teaching, outreach “pull” • Supply: Memorial capacity to deliver; “push” • Champions: make it happen • Clarify roles: Lead / Partner / Support • Clarify commitments and implementation • Contract Management / Project Management • Monitoring and Evaluation • Communicate! 9
Key Challenges • Building the brand: inside and outside the university • Faculty rewards for promotion and tenure y p • Focus; “not lose sight of the mundane whilst chasing the exciting” (Newcastle U., June 2009) • Maintaining independence while brokering projects requiring funding • Patience, taking the High Road when dealing with university politics / posturing • Don’t over estimate capacity of community / NGOs / business / government, to engage • Responding to demand; managing flow Thank You! Questions? Opportunities? ! 10
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