Events and training
Here you will find details of events and training which exist across the Faculty for staff, students and public contributors involved in Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE).
Events
| Event | Description | Register |
| PPIE celebration event |
Staff, students and Public Contributors come together to celebrate the PPIE activities that have taken place within the Faculty. It includes the 'Outstanding Contribution to PPIE Awards', which recognise the inspirational and dedicated commitment to PPIE in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. These awards are open to Public Contributors, staff, and students affiliated with the Faculty. The event occurs annually in June/July. |
To find out more or be added to the register of interests list for the event please contact srbmh@manchester.ac.uk Meet the staff, students and Public Contributors who have won at our Faculty PPIE awards: 2025 - 2024 - 2023 - 2022 - 2021 - 2020 - 2019 - 2018 - 2017 |
| Community Festival |
The community festival is a family-friendly event with a wide range of interactive activities taking place across The University of Manchester. The event occurs annually in June and is free to attend. |
For information about previous events and upcoming details for this year’s event, visit the University's Community Festival webpage for details. |
| International Women’s Day |
Every year the Faculty hosts an annual International Women's Day (IWD) celebration event which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across the world. The lecture features a different guest speaker every year. The event takes place in March and is free to attend. |
To find out more or be added to the register of interests list for the event please contact srbmh@manchester.ac.uk Watch our previous IWD events on our Faculty YouTube channel: |
| Irene Manton lecture |
The lecture held in collaboration with The Linnean Society of London celebrates and commemorates the significant contribution made by women to the Natural Sciences. The lecture features a different guest speaker every year. It is free to attend and is open to everyone, however we especially welcome A-level students with the hope of creating further interest in the study of natural sciences. |
To find out more or be added to the register of interests list for the event please contact srbmh@manchester.ac.uk Watch previous Irene Manton lectures on our Faculty YouTube channel: |
Training: Public Contributors
| Training | Description | Register |
| Training programme | We have developed a programme of learning opportunities to aid Public Contributors with their involvement and engagement. All the learning opportunities are optional and free to attend, however some opportunities are only available if specifically required for the role. There are also some external courses as well. |
View and download our Public Contributor Training Programme (MS Word doc) |
| Public Contributor Induction Session | The Induction, hosted by Professor Stephanie Snow, Academic Lead for Community Engagement and Involvement, covers all aspects of being a Public Contributor within the Faculty including presentations from a Public Contributor, researcher, and lecturer. The presentations will provide attendees with information regarding PPIE and the role of a Public Contributor within that area. |
To find out more or be added to the register of interests list for the event please contact srbmh@manchester.ac.uk. Public Contributors will also receive the Faculty’s induction guide [PDF] |
| Social Media training session | After the Induction session attendees also have the option to attend a social media training course. During this session you will learn about the basic principles of Twitter and learn tips including what you can and can’t tweet about your PPIE role. | To find out more or be added to the register of interests list for the event please contact srbmh@manchester.ac.uk. |
| Library access | Public Contributors can now access our library to use the services. Please note that this is in person only and doesn't include the online services. Public Contributors should report to customer services where they will be issued a Lib-Pass, a photo ID will need to be presented. Customer services will establish how long the visitor pass is required and a temporary record will be added to the library system. A paper Lib-Pass will be provided for the duration required. |
Training: Staff and Students
| Title | Frequency | Outline | Register |
| Getting started with Public Engagement RESDEV0085 | Twice a year, typically in October and January. |
This half-day workshop is designed for researchers who are new to or who have limited experience of public engagement and want to build up their skills, so that their public engagement is more effective. |
Book online |
| Getting started with Public & Patient Involvement (PPI) |
This will be delivered online via Teams. The course is part of the central researcher development offering and is open to early career researchers and academics. The course is co-delivered with a public contributor and uses case studies as examples. |
Book online | |
| Beginner’s Guide to Evaluating Public Engagement TDY5 | Once a year, typically in December. | This interactive back-to-basics workshop will encourage you to think about why evaluation of engagement is important; look at ways to get started; explore different techniques you can use; and consider what your findings can tell you. | Book online |
| Masterclass in Evaluating Public Engagement TDY6 | Once a year, typically in January. | This interactive workshop will provide an opportunity for you to reflect on your own practice, and consider how to maximise the value of evaluating your engagement activities. | Book online |
| SUPI: Engaging with Schools FFSES8000 | Once a year, typically in November. | This one-day, interactive workshop is for researchers from any discipline who are interested in communicating their research to a secondary schools audience. It explores the why, what and how of engaging with secondary schools. | Book online |
| Science Busking Training FSESS2000 | Twice a year to support science busking, typically in February an October. | This practical workshop look at how you can improve your communication skills for public engagement activities such as science busking. From style and approach, to content and delivery, this session will get you started in engaging a variety of non-specialists audiences. | Book online |
| Lay Abstracts with Impact FBMHS4305 | Once a year, typically in January. | This session will help you to prepare and test out your lay summary which will form an important element of your future grant applications, ethics applications and are increasingly being requested by research journals to increase the accessibility of research. | Book online |
| Introduction to Public & Patient Involvement FBMHS6018 | This half-day workshop has been designed for researchers who are new to, or have some experience with public and patient involvement (PPI). This interactive workshop will give you an understanding of the current NHS policy/ health & social care research landscape and where PPI fits within that as well as providing practical advice for developing your PPI strategy. | Book online | |
| Masterclass: Communication Skills in Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) FBMHS6023 | This workshop has been designed for researchers who would like to improve their communication skills for the purposes of involving the public in research and will use a combination of presentations, discussions and activities to help you to feel confident in communicating with the public when doing patient and public involvement work. This workshop is for individuals with some experience of public involvement. | Book online | |
| Masterclass: Setting up a PPI Group FBMHS6019 |
This masterclass has been designed for academics and researchers who are planning to set up a patient and public involvement group either for the purposes of a research study or to support a research theme/centre/organisation. Attendees should have some experience of PPI or have attended the introduction to PPI workshop |
Book online | |
| Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Training FSESS8107 | Once a year to support the 3MT competition, typically in May. | Being able to describe what you do and why it is an essential skill for any researcher. This workshop will help you take your communication to the next level. We will show you how to turn your research into the most interesting, engaging and memorable presentation possible. Discover the hints and tips that will make your talk stand out from the crowd and how to banish nerves to give a confident performance.
|
Book online |
| Standing up for Science workshop | Held once a year in collaboration with Sense about science, typically in April. | Meet researchers who have engaged with the media, learn from policymakers about why good evidence is important for them and how researchers can help inform policy. Respected science journalists will talk about how the media works, how to respond and comment, and what journalists expect from scientists and researchers. Get hints and tips from communications experts on how you can start standing up for science and find out how to involve the public in communicating research
This course isn't in the training catalogue, as it an external course that we host. |
Book o |
| Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement Series |
Sessions focussing on social responsibility and civic engagement.
|
Watch previous sessions |
Networks
There are also internal and external networks that you may want to join. These networks host events, training and also provide handy tips and resources no matter where you are in your public involvement and engagement journey.
Are you interested in public engagement? Would you like to hear and share some inspiring ideas and practice? Do you want to network with other like-minded engaging people? Then come along to this series of informal sessions exploring different aspects of public engagement hosted at The University of Manchester.
Open to: All University staff, students and community partners.
Find out more about the network and sign up to their sessions on their website.
NCCPE Public Engagement Professionals (PEP) network
The PEP Network supports engagement professionals across the UK working in higher education and research to access CPD, peer support and the latest thinking on engagement.
Find out more about the network and sign up to their sessions on their website.