Responsible Research and Innovation

The Package

This is not a training programme. Instead, we facilitate the development of literacy and confidence in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) specifically to support effective engagement with the aspects of responsible research and innovation (RRI) typically outside the immediate experience of researchers. Participants come away with reflections and actions they can put into immediate practice.

Conceived to help researchers identify unexpected impacts of their research and innovation, including engaging with diverse beneficiaries, it builds on funder expectations such as the EPSRC’s Anticipate Reflect Engage Act (AREA) framework. In that example, Anticipate points to having to find new ways to examine the assumptions and aims research and innovation is built on. EDI practices naturally lend themselves to becoming more aware of needs, priorities and assumptions that differ from those commonly found within research teams.

The workshops combine relevant information, challenges to dominant perspectives, genuine lived experiences, individual reflection, psychologically safe sharing, collaboration in pairs and groups, discussion and shared action or engagement planning.

Intra-workshop and post-workshop materials include core workshop content, scaffolded reflection exercises and resources allowing participants to extend their learning independently, as well as alternative approaches to RRI.

What is included?

The programme can be framed in line with AREA, or adapted to one relevant to your discipline, industrial sector or funder. The approach here aligns with AREA as an example.

• Workshop 1 – Anticipate – exploring the diversity of our own experiences, influences on our perceptions and priorities, and how very different experiences will shape response to and needs for innovation
• Intra-workshop – Reflect – building on Workshop 1 we provide scaffolded resources to allow participants to reflect on their learning, and apply an EDI lens to their projects, funding bids or in support of researchers and innovators
• Workshop 2 – Engage – participants bring their anticipations and reflections to bear on means, techniques and tools to engage those with different experiences, priorities and expectations of research or innovation
• Post-workshop – Act – building on outcomes of the programme of development, participants identify and start on specific actions, which might include revisiting any of Anticipate, Reflect or Engage

Tailored to your contexts and the needs of your teams, the programme can develop:

• Understanding of legal matters such as the Equality Act 2010
• Confidence with funder and stakeholder expectations
• Skills such as active listening, inclusive facilitation, calling in
• Noticing opportunities to improve inclusion and support diversity
• Recognising and harnessing privileges for positive impact
• Engagement with people with very different lived experiences
• Seeking, appreciating and value differing perspective and priorities
• Applying these components to deliver more impactful research and innovation, responsibily

Following the programme, Eyres Inclusion Consulting can offer further support such as facilitated workshops, individual coaching in inclusion, policy or process development and review of practices.

Organisations booking the RRI through EDI package are entitled to a 10% reduction on all package bookings for the following calendar year. In addition an bespoke programme proposals will add free additional services for teh same period.

To see if RRI through EDI is suitable to your needs, please get in touch. We are open to further tailoring and expansion, or a staged approach, recognising that RRI can have different meanings across different sectors and disciplines.