2013 Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum Razia Shariff, Head of KET Third Sector Research Centre

1. Hostedby:
Fundedby:
Reflective learning from the
KEIM and K* Spectrum
2013 Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum
Razia Shariff, Head of KET
Third Sector Research Centre

2. Outline
TSRC
Knowledge Exchange
Futures Dialogues
K* and KEIM
Outputs
Reflections

3. Third Sector Research Centre
To have an impact in policy, practice & academia
Academic Knowledge developed
Practitioner community able to access & use research
knowledge to enhance their work
Economic and social impact of sector evidenced and
strengthened
Policy, funding and decision making informed through an
accessible evidence base

4. Knowledge Exchange Model
To bridge gaps and build understanding between research,
decision making, policy making and practice
To ensure that the experience and knowledge of policy and
decision makers, practitioners and funders informs our
research
To make knowledge available in meaningful and accessible ways
so that it can be used by policy and decision makers,
practitioners and funders
To ensure we reach those isolated from existing research
knowledge flows

5. 1. Review of
Literature
2. Identify
Research
Streams
3.
Establish
engagement
mechanisms
4. Ensure
ongoing
participation
5.
Knowledge
exchange &
feedback
6. Promote
and
publicise
7. Identify
new areas of
research
Third Sector
Stakeholders
Decision makers and policy
implementers
Funders &
Commissioners
Non
academic
researchers
Academic
Researchers
Practitioners
Media
and
Publicists
Local and
national
policy
makers
Advisory Board
TSRC
Reference Groups

6. Tools, Method and Skills
Producing accessible published research
Building contacts and expanding reach
Managing a website and developing links
Designing publicity materials and marketing
Media relations and press work
Events management and workshop facilitation
Monitoring, evaluation and refine approach to ensure cover the
diversity and depth of the sector
Developing strong, trusting and long term relationships

7. Third Sector Futures Dialogues
Dialogue one: The worst of times?
24 September – 9 October 2012
This discussion puts the ‘great unsettlement’ into context. How serious are the
economic and political changes that the sector is currently experiencing? Is this a
significant turning point for the sector?

8. Third Sector Futures Dialogues
Dialogue three: Is the third sector so special? What is it worth?
12 – 24 November 2012
Does the sector have special or distinctive characteristics? How can we value this? Is
the sector’s ‘uniqueness’ being threatened by trends like professionalisation,
contracting or marketisation?
Dialogue four: Is the third sector being overwhelmed by the state and the market?
13 – 26 January 2013
How is the sector being shaped by its changing relationships with the state and the
market, including an increase in contracting? What do new models of funding mean for
the sector’s future?
Dialogue five: A strategic lead for the third sector?
10 – 23 February 2013
Finally, we take a serious look at possible futures for the third sector. Should the sector
speak with a strategic or coherent voice in order to negotiate its future? Who can or
should speak for the sector?
Dialogue two: No longer a voluntary sector?
22 October – 5 November 2012
Here we focus on the people involved in the third sector, as volunteers, activists,
trustees, frontline staff and managers. Is there a tension between paid and unpaid
roles?

9. K* Spectrum
(Shaxson and Bielak et al, 2012)
Big Picture Paper Webinars and Seminars Sounding Board

10. Knowledge Exchange Impact Matrix
Fewer Stakeholders More Stakeholders
Meaningful Knowledge Exchange
Dissemination of Research Knowledge
Website
Sounding Board
Press release
London Seminars
Guardian Webinars
Tweets and Blogs
Media coverage
APPG host Report Launch

11. Outputs
5,000 views by over 2,500 additional people viewed the website
http://thirdsectorfutures.org.uk
100 people attended the five London Seminars, 15 members of
the sounding board met four times
600 comments were made by 80 people during the five Guardian
Q & A’s, which were tweeted 500 times #3sfutures
22 new channels promoted the dialogues, mainly regional VCS, as
a result our monthly twitter followers, e-newsletter sign ups and
media coverage doubled
Launch of report in House of Commons in June hosted by APPG

12. Reflections
Big picture papers used TSRC research to answer a topical
dilemma raising questions for comment
Wide profiling and coverage as asking people to engage in the
dialogues online
Deep and meaningful dialogues held, although research was
miss tweeted by a Minister !
Outcome wasn’t really an answer but highlighted the ‘spectrum
of possibilities’ current unsettlement is generating in sector

13. Contact
Razia Shariff
Knowledge Exchange Team
THIRD SECTOR RESEARCH CENTRE
knowledge@tsrc.ac.uk
www.tsrc.ac.uk