Research events

It is important that you contact the Research Communications Team as early as possible - ideally 18 months before your event - so we can advise and support you accordingly.

Planning an event

There are four key points to consider before planning an event:

• What is the reason for holding the event? What do you hope to achieve?
• What is your target audience? Who would you like to attend? 
• What do you want people to understand when they leave the event? What are the key messages?
• What would success look like?

Timing

Consideration needs to be given to the date and timing of events over and above the availability of the key participants/what is convenient to the organiser.

• What else is taking place in the University/externally which may clash?
• Does a clash have an impact, for example to our reputation, or both striving for the same audience or involving similar staff?
• Is the timing suitable for the audience you are hoping to attract?

When planning an event, you should contact the Research Communications Team as early as possible, so that we can check that your proposed dates are not in conflict with other significant activities using Columba and BrightPod.

Location

Consideration needs to be given to the format of the event and whether this is inclusive for the audience wishing to attend. For example:

• Does your venue need to be physically accessible? Many campus venues are not DDA-compliant as part of the Equality Act. How will people with limited mobility get to the event, and can travel expenses be provided?
• How will hearing or visually impaired people access the event? Contingency funds need to be available for sign language interpreters to be provided if requested.
• Do you need to hold the event on campus? If you are targeting a specific audience or looking for more engagement, can you go out into the community?
• Is the event structured to ensure that it is open and inclusive to the intended audience? For example, are you just speaking to the audience with no interaction or inviting comments or questions? Are you hoping for more interactive activities? Do you need a lecture theatre? Do you need roving microphones for questions?

To book a venue on campus, contact Central Teaching Spaces (57305) or complete their online form.

Match your venue to your activities. For example:

• do you need a large foyer for academic or guest interaction?
• do rooms need to have audio-visual equipment?
• will those unfamiliar with our campus be able to find it with ease?
• does the venue allow catering? 

Promoting an event

Evaluating an event

Anyone responsible for running events and engagement activities should be prepared to evaluate the success of the event in order to improve practice, demonstrate impact and to provide a record of achievement.

From a research perspective, the regular use of metrics, such as tracking the attendance of key opinion leaders and decision-makers, helps to identify and strengthen our key external relationships, including international and internal research leaders, and to manage these relationships strategically for the long-term benefit of the research agenda.

For more information, please contact the Research Communications Team.

Find out more

• Engagement@Manchester
• Beginner's guide to evaluating public engagement
• Masterclass in evaluating public engagement
• Evaluating engagement

Resources

• Conference manual
• Creating the 'perfect' stakeholder event
• Event brief (example)
• Event planning template
• Event schedule (example)
• Funding opportunities for public engagement
• Useful contact list