Training and events

Upcoming events

Detailed below are upcoming Coventry HDRC events.

How do we allocate resources under conditions of scarcity?

Monday 20th May 2024, 12.30 – 13.15 | Online via Microsoft Teams

Speaker: Hesam Ghiasvand (Coventry University)

Many public institutions, in particular local authorities, are under increasing financial pressure through inflation and budget-cuts. Where cuts to services are made, these may adversely impact those with the greatest need most. In this session, Hesam will outline how, using examples and evidence from health economics, resources can be allocated in an evidence-based way that minimises adverse impacts.

What is intellectual property and its considerations related to research?

Wednesday 12th June 2024, 12.30 - 13.30 | Online via Microsoft Teams

Speaker: Guy Smallman (University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust)

In this session, Guy Smallman (Industrial Partnerships and Intellectual Property Manager) will cover: 

• What is intellectual property (IP)
• The importance of IP to research
• Types of IP
• How to protect IP
• IP dos and don'ts 
• IP considerations in research grant applications and contracts
• Collaborative relationships 
• Commercialisation strategies

Involving the public in research

Tuesday 9th July, 13.00 - 13.45 | Online via Microsoft Teams

Speaker: Nikki Holliday (Coventry University)

In this session, Nikki Holliday will discuss:

• What is public involvement?
• Why is involving the public integral to good research?
• How does research and practice benefit from public involvement?
• What can good public involvement in research look like?

What are the different types of research methods?

Wednesday 17th July, 12.30 – 13.15 | Online via Microsoft Teams

Speaker: Lauren Bell (Coventry HDRC)

There are many different types of research methods that are particularly useful to local authorities. We may want to know how much a service has improved between two timepoints using numbers, or we may talk to the public to understand what their experiences of living in Coventry are or how they feel about a new intervention. The most appropriate method (quantitative, qualitative, or a mix of the two) will depend on the question being asked. After this session, you will be aware of some of the most popular research methods that are used in local authority-based research and how they may apply to your work.

What has research done for us?

Wednesday 18th September, 12:30-13:15 | Online via Microsoft Teams

Speakers: Gabriela Matouskova (Hope for the Community) and Professor Andy Turner (Coventry University)

In this seminar, Gabriela Matouskova and Professor Andy Turner will discuss how the use of research and evidence can lead to positive outcomes for the community and organisations. The Hope Programme, developed through a collaboration between social enterprise and academia, will be used as an example of how research can be used effectively.

How do we find evidence about an area of interest?

Monday 14th October, 13:00-13:45 | Online via Microsoft Teams

Speaker: Naila Dracup (University of Warwick)

There are many forms of evidence that can be used to influence local authority practice. These include service evaluations, local survey data, and local reference groups. There is also a wealth of academic evidence produced by universities and charities that should be considered when considering new programmes of work. However, this evidence can be difficult to find and navigate, especially when they do not always appear at the top of Google searches. In addition to Google and Google Scholar, there are academic literature databases that when searched systematically can quickly identify relevant research to a specific area of interest. This seminar will outline how academic literature can be searched for and accessed by those working in local authorities.

Training and Skills is one of the five pillars of the HDRC and is aimed at those working within or alongside the HDRC collaborating organisations. Training will focus on embedding evidence-based decision-making and the development of research skills, research ideas and the next generation of research leaders.

Training opportunities

Below is a range of free resources recommended by the HDRC and available to help you develop knowledge and skills in research and evaluation.

Open University

The Open University offer free, self-guided, online courses that cover aspects of research, data, and evidence. Some resources developed are shared below:

•  Exploring data: graphs and numerical summaries (20-hour self-guided course, introductory level)
•  Using data to aid organisational change (10-hour self-guided course, intermediate level)
•  Understanding research with children and young people (16-hour self-guided course, intermediate level)
•  The power of infographics in research dissemination (7-hour self-guided course, intermediate level)
•  Becoming an ethical researcher (18-hour self-guided course, advanced level)
•  Quantitative and qualitative research in finance (10-hour self-guided course, advanced level)

National Institute of Health and Care Research

The National Institute of Health and Care Research (NHIR) are the UK's largest funder of health and care research. Some resources developed by NIHR organisations are shared below:

•  What are Health Determinants Research Collaborations? (short video)
•  Introduction to cultural competence in research (10-minute video)
•  Toolkit for conducting Equality Impact Assessments in Research (written guide)

National Centre for Research Methods

The National Centre for Research Methods host a range of resources about the different methods that can be used to carry out research. Included in their resources are a range of podcasts and online resources, some of which are shared below:

•  Selection of short podcasts about research
•  What is inclusive research? (podcast)

The NCRM also deliver in-person and online training workshops on a variety of research methods. Find a list of upcoming workshops here: https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/alltrain.php

Future Learn – Starting out in research

Future Learn host a free online, introductory course about carrying out research. The topics focus on health and social care, although the learning can be applied to other topics.

The course content covers 2 hours per week for 8 weeks. People working for organisations delivering NHS or social care services (including local authorities) are eligible for a free course upgrade where you can complete the course entirely at your own pace.

Find out more here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/starting-out-in-health-and-social-care-research

Cochrane - Involving the public in research

Cochrane offer free training videos about how to involve members of the public throughout the whole research process. Find the full list of resources here: https://training.cochrane.org/international-ppi-network-learning-live-webinar-series

Key videos of interest may include:

Patient and public involvement in research: What, why and how? https://training.cochrane.org/resource/patient-and-public-involvement-research-what-why-and-how

Co-Production in action:https://training.cochrane.org/resource/co-production-action

Setting research priorities with members of the public: https://training.cochrane.org/resource/research-priority-setting-with-patients-and-public

No choice of outcomes about us without us! https://training.cochrane.org/resource/no-choice-outcomes-about-us-without-us

Health Determinants Research Collaboration Coventry Webinars

The Coventry HDRC are running training webinars each month. Sign up to attend a live webinar via the links at the top of this page.

All previous training webinars delivered by the Coventry HDRC can be watched on the HDRC Youtube channel. Videos will be added each month: https://www.youtube.com/@CoventryHDRC

Feedback

If you decide to visit and engage with any of these courses, we welcome your views on if you found it helpful or not. If you need any assistance to access any of the above please contact the team by email: CoventryHDRC@coventry.gov.uk.