ID051 Building strong, long-lasting and visible partnerships

The Idea

That Keele implements a strategy to strengthen and increase the value of existing and new partnerships between researchers and patient charities and organisations. As a whole, Keele research receives significant funding from several national and international patient charities and organisations. However, the relationships between these organisations and researchers are not adequately advertised and leveraged. Doing so would help us further develop and establish Keele as a university that works with and for the community.

Why This Idea Should Be Considered

The research funding landscape in the UK is rapidly changing, as evidenced by the recent pause of UKRI funding. Furthermore, the recent UKRI communications point to less money being available for smaller PI-led grants, which will most likely favour larger research-intensive Russell group universities. Strengthening our existing partnerships with patient charities and organisations could help build long-lasting research support at Keele outside of the UKRI stream. 

How We Would Implement This Idea

1. Having a dedicated university webpage that lists all the patient charities and organisations that fund Keele research 
2. Working with these charities to raise awareness of these charities and Keele affiliations that could be combined with fundraising for Keele specific projects (e.g. Ph.D. studentships) 
3. Work with these charities to build long-lasting funding models that could fall outside of typical grant calls formats where both Keele and the charities contribute financially to support research projects, equipment, infrastructures 
4.  Working with the charities and patient organisations to establish long-term infrastructure funding programmes. 
5. Creating affiliated chair titles and positions. 
6. Bestow charities and patient organisations with Keele gift and/or honour that would be meaningful for them.  

What Success Would Look Like

1. Increased fundraising for charities/organisations-related research endeavours 
2. Increased partnerships and interactions with charity/organisation members at local, national and international levels 
3. Increased research income from charities/organisations 
4. Creation of new partnerships between Keele and patient charities/organisations 
5. Increased donations from philanthropic donors. 
6. Implementation of a coordinated approach when applying for charity funding. 
7. Increased number of postgraduate students funded by charities and patient organisations.  
8. Implementation of partnerships that benefit and ensure financial viability of both parties.
9. Increased presence of Keele staff on boards and committees of charities and patient organisations.