Cultures of Collaborative Research in a Socially Progressive Technological University

Authors:  Maria Weikum, Emma Compton-Daw, Angela Graham, Churnjeet Mahn, Grace Murkett, Katie Salamon, I Lin Sin, Chris Wells-Holland on behalf of the wider Collaborative Cultures community

Organisation:  University of Strathclyde

How can we work with partners in industry, the public and third sector to co-produce inclusive research cultures? How do we value and recognise the breadth and depth of everyday contributions which sustain thriving collaborative research cultures? These are the key questions that the Collaborative Cultures Programme, a 2-year Wellcome Trust-funded initiative at the University of Strathclyde, aims to explore. 

Based on the premise that research cultures are not the sole domain of universities but rather are shaped through the various external and often cross-sector partnerships we maintain, the Collaborative Cultures Programme focuses on aspects of access, reward and recognition in collaborative research and innovation environments. Using a combination of different methods, the programme aims to:
- Work with our research community to deliver interventions that test levers, barriers and solutions to more inclusive cultures of collaboration; 
- Develop new data on research cultures using qualitative and creative methods, such as diary writing and repeat interviews;
- Create resources that address what good collaboration looks like and how we can reward and recognise the diverse and often ‘invisible’ contributions that enable successful collaborative cultures.

As we approach the end of the programme’s first year, we will share key insights from our work, including an overview of 12 pilot projects funded internally to address equality barriers in relation to access to collaboration and leadership opportunities. Initial findings from other areas will also be shared, such as work on a framework to measure collaborative cultures, our diary research and overall lessons learned from the programme.