Mobilising Meaningful Connections between Evidence and Practice

This event has ended.

Knowledge mobilisation is about connecting the work of researchers to decision makers to help inform public policy and professional practice. It’s more than just disseminating research in a one-way flow of information. It’s about engagement, end-user involvement and a focus on impact.

This event brings together experts in knowledge mobilisation to discuss what they’ve learnt, and examples of best practice. Our keynote address will be delivered by Professor Jonathan Sharples on his work on knowledge mobilisation at the Education Endowment Foundation. He’ll discuss what the EEF has learnt to date about how to mobilise evidence at scale, including how to embed evidence use in the wider education system and the role of practitioners in bringing evidence to life. He will outline the EEF’s recent work on implementation, which draws on a recent guidance report, Putting Evidence to Work – A School’s Guide to Implementation.

Jonathan will then participate in a panel discussion with Cardiff University Social Science Research Park (SPARK) academics including:

• Dr Rhiannon Evans - Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer)
• Dr Eleanor MacKillop - Wales Centre for Public Policy

This event is free to attend, but spaces are limited so we ask you to register.

A buffet lunch will be provided at the start of the event.

About Jonathan

Jonathan is a Professorial Research Fellow at the Education Endowment Foundation, seconded from University College London. He acts as a bridge between academia and policy, applying insights on research use and implementation to develop national initiatives such as the Research Schools Network. Jonathan works with schools and system leaders across the sector to promote evidence-informed practice and spread knowledge of ‘what works’ in teaching and learning.

Jonathan previously worked at The Institute for the Future of the Mind at the University of Oxford, where he was looking at how insights from brain-science research can support teachers’ expertise and professional development.

About SPARK

Situated on Cardiff University’s new innovation campus, the Social Science Research Park (SPARK) is designed to be a catalyst of change. A magnet for national and international research leaders, the facility will draw in new research partners to create opportunities for innovation and enterprise across diverse sectors and regions. Crucially, it will provide a facility that other leading UK and international institutions can access, creating further collaboration.

Building on established research strengths, at the heart of SPARK is the idea of co-creation: people working together across disciplines and across professional boundaries to study, learn about and also to solve some of the most pressing problems we face. One of its key activities will be producing prototypes of ideas that can be tested with citizens, consumers and end-users.

About Wales Centre for Public Policy

Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and Welsh Government, the Centre is based at Cardiff University and a member of the UK’s What Works Network.

The Centre collaborates with leading policy experts to provide ministers, the civil service and public services with high quality evidence and independent advice that helps them to improve policy decisions and outcomes.

The Centre also undertakes research to advance understanding of the role which evidence can play in supporting better policy making and public service delivery.