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Participatory Visions
Redesigning research for social justice.
6 March 2023
Despite increasing support within universities and amongst research funders听for participatory research approaches,听institutional processes and funding听requirements continue to limit participatory听engagements that meaningfully further听social justice. Recognising this disconnect,听UCL鈥檚 Institute for Global Prosperity,听Co-Production Collective, and Institute听of Education, supported by UCL鈥檚 Grand听Challenge of Justice & Equality, set out to听investigate the practical barriers university听researchers and community partners face听in conducting participatory social justice听research.听
Between May and August 2022, 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted听with research facilitators, university听researchers, and听community partners -听all of whom had expertise supporting or听engaging in participatory social justice听research across a range of听disciplines.听They were asked what barriers they听faced in conducting participatory social听justice research, particularly in terms听of funding and university processes.听Drawing on the barriers identified in the听interviews, a workshop was organised that brought together university researchers,听community partners, and funders to coproduce recommendations for change.听
The project听found that the obstacles research听facilitators, university researchers, and听community partners faced generally听coalesced around three key themes:
- Challenge 1: Relationship-building is undervalued;
- Challenge 2: Community partners听aren鈥檛 valued;
- Challenge 3: Sectors听work in silos.
The project's final report听details the main aspects and impacts of听these challenges, as well as incorporating a听case study of an ongoing听participatory research collaboration, which illustrates the importance听of long-term funding to supporting cross-sectoral听partnership,听equality, and the听development of new research pathways.听The report also summarises the听collective听recommendations for change听that emerged from the workshop听with community partners, university听researchers, and funders.听
The full report is available here听or an executive summary can be accessed below.
