A new methods centre will capitalise on the diversity of expertise in the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy, ultimately supporting better research.
As the challenges we face as a society increase in their complexity and interconnectedness, as social scientists it is imperative that we find new ways of understanding these problems and thinking of how we can solve them. The Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy has therefore approved a new methods centre to support and develop research and teaching on methods.
The centre is a collaborative venture, working with schools and departments to understand their use of different methods as a means of fostering innovation and driving improvements. Developed after much consultation and feedback from within and beyond SSPP, it will identify learning opportunities and communalities, developing capacity to use and build on our collective methodological expertise in teaching and research, such as with funding bids.
Through networking, events, and methods labs, the Centre will increase the visibility of methodological expertise and collaboration in SSPP, creating the conditions for further innovation and external engagement. In addition, the Centre will be able to support methods teaching across SSPP at all levels.
SSPP Research Development Manager David Newsome:
"An SSPP Methods Centre will provide an exciting catalyst for showcasing excellence, sharing best practice, incubating new ideas, and raising aspirations. Not only is this intrinsically important and intellectually stimulating, it also will bring real benefits to how research projects are designed, making them more competitive for external funding. Or, as the title of a recent funding call from UKRI put it: Better Methods, Better Research."
The project will start with the hiring of an academic lead to gear up the Centre starting in November. The Centre Director will be tasked with developing internal and external networks, building on the strategy and action plan developed so far. There will be opportunities for academic staff to engage through secondments across the faculty. As time goes on, the plan is to do more work on teaching synergies, and to contribute to online teaching and professional education when there is a need for a methods component. To enable all this to happen, the Centre Director will work closely with Professional Services, and have a budget for events and internal funding calls.
In the coming months a celebratory launch event to show all that SSPP has done on methods so far, introduce the new director, invite more collaborations, and set out pathways for the future.
