How to train social science researchers to become consultants

Transcript

1. How to train social
   science researchers
   to become
   consultants
   The University of Sussex
   8 October | 11:00 – 12:00
   

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2. Business School/ASPECT programme
   Intrapreneurship for the Research Community (IRC)
   ‘ECR Consultancy Programme’
   Marcus Atkinson
   External Engagement Manager Business School
   Andre Mostert
   Research and Enterprise/Social Science Business Partner/ASPECT Broker/DICE Consortium US Link
   University of Sussex
   

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3. Aspirational Programme Outcomes 4 ECRs
   Be able:
   • to recognize their role as an intrapreneur within their university/organization
   • to develop a plan for sustaining their research interests
   • to apply strategies for building networks for supporting their research work
   • to create a viable and effective bidding platform
   • to make submissions to appropriate research and development funding
   sources
   • to recognize that rejection is a central part of building a competitive bid
   • to embrace any commercial potential associated with their research to plan a
   spin out
   • to compile and table a long-term plan for intrapreneurial development
   

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4. Not Delivering from the outset?
   • Possible reasons
   • Poor delivery by facilitator (Andre Mostert)
   • Lack of relevant content? – including introduction to existing networks, possible funding
   routes, DICE Consortium (preferred research supplier for a major international agency),
   support from Sussex, opportunities to showcase i.e. Skills 4 Jobs India, ASPECT Annual
   events, KTPs, MKTPs, possible private sector clients, etc.
   • Teaching load
   • Incorrect nomenclatures (setting up a consultancy from the ground-up is tough) – operating as
   a freelancer, intrapreneur, contractor, etc) may resonate better (the title of this session not
   withstood) – design by consultants 4 emerging consultants?
   • Lack of a clear road map? To loose? Homework?
   • The negative – Innovate UK April = 8600 submission for 600 projects
   • Lack of suitable opportunities? – probably again poorly conveyed by Andre
   • No underlying demand for a programme of this nature
   • Follow-up email to all 28 registered with business engagement opportunities (with small grant,
   lifting of a supplier framework freeze, opportunity to participate in Skills 4 Jobs (3 interest),
   build international research bid to British Academy (3),opportunity to participate in Erasmus+
   bid for 29th Oct (2), etc.
   

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5. So What did we change?
   • Got an ECR to present – hopefully this ECR will grow with the programme
   and be the backbone of the next
   • Creation of a Intrapreneurial/Project development Workbook
   • Mapping of research interests in the group to funding opportunities (sent out
   after the first session – perhaps starting point – as info was gathered through
   registration
   • Immediate focus on end point outcomes i.e. removing the idea of process as
   outcome – typical of many non curriculum based activities
   • Although process as outcome is key to early stage project development -
   mission critical
   • Started to use project manager, contracting, freelancing, etc.
   • Building around existing projects from the outset and seek overlaps with
   interest areas
   • Focus on STEPs rather than sessions
   

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6. And in case its seems easy
   ‘Its not a lack of opportunity, it’s a lack of perseverance in the face
   of extensive rejection’ Amazon was rejected 40 times prior to
   securing funding’
   The Myth of the Intrapreneur
   https://hbr.org/2018/06/the-myth-of-the-intrapreneur
   Thank you
   Andre Mostert
   a.m.mostert@sussex.ac.uk
   

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7. A quick overview of
   FE Sussex
   Dr Tim Strickland
   Chief Executive Officer
   8th October 2020
   

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8. FE Sussex
   The consortium company of the 16 post-sixteen colleges in Sussex
   and Surrey
   

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9. FE Sussex
   The consortium company of the 16 post-sixteen colleges in Sussex
   and Surrey
   Total turnover £230M pa
   10,000 staff
   75,000 students (approx!)
   

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10. FE Sussex Associate Members
    FE Sussex Members
    

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11. FE Sussex
    The consortium company of the 16 post-sixteen colleges in Sussex
    and Surrey
    Four Sixth Form (academic ) colleges
    Eleven General Further Education colleges
    One specialist land-based college
    

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12. FE Sussex – Our mission
    To assist in delivering the common
    agendas of our colleges
    

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13. FE Sussex – Key Business Aims
    • Quality improvement
    • Facilitate peer group development
    • Influencing
    • Strategic support for principals
    • Generate income
    • Delivery of sponsored research projects
    

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14. FE Sussex – Typical activities
    • Peer Group meetings
    • Inspection advice sessions
    • Staff development
    • International Directors coordination
    • Conference and workshops
    • Principals’ meetings
    • Education project delivery
    

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15. Research within FE
    Commissioned by various groups eg:
    • Education and Training Foundation
    • DfE
    • Gatsby Foundation
    • Construction Industry Training Board
    

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16. FE Sussex – Research within FE
    • Research seldom commissioned by colleges
    acting alone
    • Consortia research applications usually
    viewed more favourably
    • Research comes in cyclical waves according to
    the flavour of the moment eg inspection,
    flipped classroom, Covid, on-line learning,
    management training needs etc etc
    

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17. Best of luck and thank you!
    Any questions?
    

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18. Thank you for joining
    today’s session
    @aspect_network
    Aspect Social Sciences Network
    www.aspect.ac.uk/annual-event-2020/
    

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