Although knowledge mobilization
is often used in a research context, it can be applied to many different fields
and sectors of employment. Engaging in knowledge mobilization requires applying
a wide variety of skills such as stakeholder engagement, clear language writing
skills, communications, design, social media engagement, event planning and
facilitation, and evaluation. While these skills are often in-demand for job
candidates, students don’t usually receive training for them in school.
Therefore, to better prepare students for job searching and employment, it is
important to provide them with opportunities to learn about and develop these skills.
The University of Guelph launched an 8-session workshop
series that provided targeted skills building sessions in knowledge
mobilization related topics for faculty, staff, and students on campus. These
hands-on sessions were facilitated by knowledge mobilization experts;
participants learned how to successfully plan, execute, and evaluate knowledge
mobilization activities. As well, throughout the sessions, participants were
invited to apply the workshops’ content to their own research contexts and
goals and bring real examples to work on. The goals of the workshops were to be
highly participatory and provide practical knowledge, skills, and tools to its
participants.
The 8 sessions included:
- Planning for Research Impact
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Clear Language Writing
- Design Principles: Designing for your Audience
- Website Design and Digital Accessibility
- Social Media Engagement
- Event Planning and Facilitation
- Evaluating KTT Activities
The workshops were well received on campus; for almost all
sessions, registrations were at capacity. As well, many participants attended
more than one workshop. Post-workshop evaluations indicated that participants
felt that their knowledge and skill level on the topic areas increased.
Overall, the workshops were considered a success. The University of Guelph is
offering these workshop sessions online again in 2021! To learn more and
register, click here!
In addition, the University of Guelph used funding from the Future
Skills Centre to collaborate on four other initiatives that aimed at building
skills and capacity in knowledge mobilization. These initiatives included:
- Guelph/KW Knowledge Translation Community of
Practice
- Certificate in Knowledge Mobilization
- Facilitation Workshop
- The Improve Life Challenge
University of Guelph also used the Future Skills
Centre funding to collaborate on five separate initiatives (one of which was
the skills workshop series). To learn more about them, read the full report
here: