Greenwood, Rob

Memorial University Research Repository

1Making the Connection: Lessons from the Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development, Memorial UniversityPresentation to Making the Connection: Universities and Community Economic DevelopmentFredericton, N.B., Oct. 18, 2011Rob Greenwood, Ph.D.DirectorOverview • Harris Centre Overview• Knowledge Mobilization • Programs & Initiatives• www.yaffle.ca• The Harris Centre as Broker• Conclusion: Key Points on Knowledge     Sharing• Future Partnerships or Opportunities?2Memorial University Community / Regional Engagement• Faculties and Schools• Marine Institute • Student Organizations (eg. SIFE)• Student Services, Service Learning• Grenfell Campus, Corner Brook• Labrador Institute• Genesis Group / Springboard• Gardiner Centre• International Centre• Etc., etc., etc. Harris Centre Mandate• Established October 2004• Coordinate and Facilitate the University’s Activities Relating to Regional Policy and Development• Advise on Building the University’s Capacity• Identify Priority Themes and Projects relating to:• Teaching• Research• Outreach• Emerging role: Honest Broker3Knowledge Mobilization: Harris Centre Perspective• Continuum of inside-out outside-in and co-  ,   productionIdeally:• Engage stakeholders to define issues / needs / opportunities• Involve partners in knowledge generation• Ground-truth findings to inform conclusions• Recognize independence of researcher• Dissemination / application have many champions…Harris CentreKnowledge Mobilization Programs and Initiatives• Public Presentations• Invitation only Sessions-  • Targeted Research Funding• Knowledge Exchange• Packaging Research to Meet Needs• Regional Workshops• New Opportunity Identification: “one-pagers”• Yaffle.ca4Responding to the Community:  ExampleLeading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA)Exploits Valley Regional Economic Development BoardRequests Graduate Student research related to Leading Tickles MPAResponding to the Community:  ExampleLeading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA)Exploits Valley Regional Economic Development BoardRequests Graduate Student research related to Leading Tickles MPAHarris Centre circulates “one pager” on opportunityBiology faculty member responds5Responding to the Community:  ExampleLeading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA)Exploits Valley Regional Economic Development BoardHarris Centre circulates “one pager” on opportunityRequests Graduate Student research related to Leading Tickles MPABiology faculty member respondsDepartment of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) presents MPA needsFaculty / graduate student work on proposalsResponding to the Community:  ExampleLeading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA)Exploits Valley Regional Economic Development BoardHarris Centre circulates “one pager” on opportunityDepartment of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) presents MPA needsThree proposals presented to DFORequests Graduate Student research related to Leading Tickles MPABiology faculty member respondsFaculty / graduate student work on proposalsDFO funds faculty / graduate student research (capelin, lobster, herring)6Responding to the Community:  ExampleLeading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA)Exploits Valley Regional Economic Development BoardHarris Centre circulates “one pager” on opportunityDepartment of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) presents MPA needsRequests Graduate Student research related to Leading Tickles MPABiology faculty member respondsFaculty / graduate student work on proposalsThree proposals presented to DFODFO funds faculty / graduate Harris Centre brokers long-term relationshipstudent research (capelin, lobster, herring)DFO - Memorial collaborative research agreement on MPA’sResponding to the Community:  ExampleLeading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA)Exploits Valley Regional Economic Development Harris Centre circulates “one pager” on opportunityDepartment of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) presents BoardRequests Graduate Student research related to Leading Tickles MPABiology faculty member respondsMPA needsFaculty / graduate student work on proposalsThree proposals presented to DFOHarris Centre brokers long term relationshipThe resultsDFO funds faculty / graduate student research (capelin, lobster, herring)-DFO - Memorial collaborative research agreement on MPA’sFunding for graduate student researchResearch on MPA’s for improved fishery/coastal sustainability7One-pager Successes• Over 75 faculty connected;• New ferry design for Strait of Belle Isle;Th t t i i ith kid i L b W t• ea re ra n ng w  s n a  es ;• Studying Boom and Bust in Northern Mining Towns (SSHRC);• Alternate energy in two northern Labrador communities;• Studying male underachievement in the education system; • Four seminars on e-marketing (paired leaders), approx 200 businesses;• SIFE student team working with aboriginal youth on financial sustainability of a cultural museum;    • Dialogues (e.g., regional cooperation, historical significance);• Feasibility Studies (Bottled Water, Bacon-Wrapped Scallops);• KT: (e.g., Agriculture in Stephenville; sheep farmers coyote management in Placentia)A ‘marketplace’ for information 8Yaffle Today• Over 95,000 searches since public launch (Feb. 2009)A d f  181 t i   6 ti t• ccesse rom coun r es over con nen s• Average of 125 users per day• Graduate Students using Yaffle for thesis topics• MITACS Identification of Internships• Government, Community and Media constant users( f ) j• 2011 so ar  – over 20 new brokered pro ectsYaffle Statistics & Next Steps• 1550+ Lay Summaries• 150+ Opportunities• 900+ Researcher and Staff Expertise Profiles• University of Alberta interest in adopting Yaffle; discussions under way• Extension of Yaffle outside Memorial to research and knowledge mobilization partners within NL9Harris Knowledge Mobilization ProcessThe Harris Centre as Broker• Mirrors Marketing Function: Need to Identify 3 Components:• Demand: research, teaching, outreach “pull”• Supply: Memorial capacity to deliver; “push”• Champions: make it happen• Clarify roles: Lead / Partner / Support• Clarify commitments and implementation• Contract Management / Project Management• Monitoring and Evaluation• Communicate!10Key Challenges• Building the brand: inside and outside the university• Faculty rewards for promotion and tenure• Focus; “not lose sight of the mundane whilst chasing the exciting” (Newcastle U., June 2009)• Maintaining independence while brokering projects requiring funding• Patience, taking the High Road when dealing with university politics / posturing• Don’t over estimate capacity of community / NGOs / business / government, to engage• Responding to demand; managing flowThank You!Questions? Opportunities? !

Making the Connection: Lessons from the Leslie Harris

Centre of Regional Policy and Development, Memorial

University

1
Making the Connection: Lessons from the Leslie Harris 
Centre of Regional Policy and Development, Memorial 
University
Presentation to Making the Connection: Universities and Community Economic 
Development
Fredericton, N.B., Oct. 18, 2011
Rob Greenwood, Ph.D.
Director
Overview 
• Harris Centre Overview
• Knowledge Mobilization 
• Programs & Initiatives
• www.yaffle.ca
• The Harris Centre as Broker
• Conclusion: Key Points on Knowledge     
Sharing
• Future Partnerships or Opportunities?
2
Memorial University 
Community / Regional Engagement
• Faculties and Schools
• Marine Institute 
• Student Organizations (eg. SIFE)
• Student Services, Service Learning
• Grenfell Campus, Corner Brook
• Labrador Institute
• Genesis Group / Springboard
• Gardiner Centre
• International Centre
• Etc., etc., etc. 
Harris Centre Mandate
• Established October 2004
• Coordinate and Facilitate the University’s 
Activities Relating to Regional Policy and 
Development
• Advise on Building the University’s Capacity
• Identify Priority Themes and Projects relating 
to:
• Teaching
• Research
• Outreach
• Emerging role: Honest Broker
3
Knowledge Mobilization: 
Harris Centre Perspective
• Continuum of inside-out outside-in and co-  ,   
production
Ideally:
• Engage stakeholders to define issues / needs / 
opportunities
• Involve partners in knowledge generation
• Ground-truth findings to inform conclusions
• Recognize independence of researcher
• Dissemination / application have many champions…
Harris Centre
Knowledge Mobilization Programs and Initiatives
• Public Presentations
• Invitation only Sessions-  
• Targeted Research Funding
• Knowledge Exchange
• Packaging Research to Meet Needs
• Regional Workshops
• New Opportunity Identification: “one-pagers”
• Yaffle.ca
4
Responding to the Community:  Example
Leading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA)
Exploits Valley Regional 
Economic Development 
Board
Requests Graduate Student 
research related to Leading 
Tickles MPA
Responding to the Community:  Example
Leading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA)
Exploits Valley Regional 
Economic Development 
Board
Requests Graduate Student 
research related to Leading 
Tickles MPA
Harris Centre circulates 
“one pager” on opportunity
Biology faculty member 
responds
5
Responding to the Community:  Example
Leading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA)
Exploits Valley Regional 
Economic Development 
Board
Harris Centre circulates 
“one pager” on opportunity
Requests Graduate Student 
research related to Leading 
Tickles MPA
Biology faculty member 
responds
Department of Fisheries 
and Oceans (DFO) presents 
MPA needs
Faculty / graduate student 
work on proposals
Responding to the Community:  Example
Leading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA)
Exploits Valley Regional 
Economic Development 
Board
Harris Centre circulates 
“one pager” on opportunity
Department of Fisheries 
and Oceans (DFO) presents 
MPA needs
Three proposals presented 
to DFO
Requests Graduate Student 
research related to Leading 
Tickles MPA
Biology faculty member 
responds
Faculty / graduate student work 
on proposals
DFO funds faculty / graduate 
student research (capelin, 
lobster, herring)
6
Responding to the Community:  Example
Leading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA)
Exploits Valley Regional 
Economic Development 
Board
Harris Centre circulates 
“one pager” on opportunity
Department of Fisheries 
and Oceans (DFO) presents 
MPA needs
Requests Graduate Student 
research related to Leading 
Tickles MPA
Biology faculty member 
responds
Faculty / graduate student work 
on proposals
Three proposals presented 
to DFO
DFO funds faculty / graduate 
Harris Centre brokers long-
term relationship
student research (capelin, 
lobster, herring)
DFO - Memorial collaborative research 
agreement on MPA’s
Responding to the Community:  Example
Leading Tickles Marine Protected Area (MPA)
Exploits Valley Regional 
Economic Development 
Harris Centre circulates 
“one pager” on opportunity
Department of Fisheries 
and Oceans (DFO) presents 
Board
Requests Graduate Student 
research related to Leading 
Tickles MPA
Biology faculty member 
responds
MPA needs
Faculty / graduate student work 
on proposals
Three proposals presented 
to DFO
Harris Centre brokers 
long term relationship
The results
DFO funds faculty / graduate 
student research (capelin, 
lobster, herring)
-
DFO - Memorial collaborative 
research agreement on MPA’s
Funding for graduate student 
research
Research on MPA’s for improved 
fishery/coastal sustainability
7
One-pager Successes
• Over 75 faculty connected;
• New ferry design for Strait of Belle Isle;
Th t t i i ith kid i L b W t• ea re ra n ng w  s n a  es ;
• Studying Boom and Bust in Northern Mining Towns (SSHRC);
• Alternate energy in two northern Labrador communities;
• Studying male underachievement in the education system; 
• Four seminars on e-marketing (paired leaders), approx 200 
businesses;
• SIFE student team working with aboriginal youth on financial 
sustainability of a cultural museum;    
• Dialogues (e.g., regional cooperation, historical significance);
• Feasibility Studies (Bottled Water, Bacon-Wrapped Scallops);
• KT: (e.g., Agriculture in Stephenville; sheep farmers coyote 
management in Placentia)
A ‘marketplace’ for information 
8
Yaffle Today
• Over 95,000 searches since public launch (Feb. 2009)
A d f  181 t i   6 ti t• ccesse rom coun r es over con nen s
• Average of 125 users per day
• Graduate Students using Yaffle for thesis topics
• MITACS Identification of Internships
• Government, Community and Media constant users
( f ) j• 2011 so ar  – over 20 new brokered pro ects
Yaffle Statistics & Next Steps
• 1550+ Lay Summaries
• 150+ Opportunities
• 900+ Researcher and Staff Expertise Profiles
• University of Alberta interest in adopting Yaffle; 
discussions under way
• Extension of Yaffle outside Memorial to research and 
knowledge mobilization partners within NL
9
Harris Knowledge Mobilization Process
The Harris Centre as Broker
• Mirrors Marketing Function: Need to Identify 3 
Components:
• Demand: research, teaching, outreach “pull”
• Supply: Memorial capacity to deliver; “push”
• Champions: make it happen
• Clarify roles: Lead / Partner / Support
• Clarify commitments and implementation
• Contract Management / Project Management
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Communicate!
10
Key Challenges
• Building the brand: inside and outside the university
• Faculty rewards for promotion and tenure
• Focus; “not lose sight of the mundane whilst chasing 
the exciting” (Newcastle U., June 2009)
• Maintaining independence while brokering projects 
requiring funding
• Patience, taking the High Road when dealing with 
university politics / posturing
• Don’t over estimate capacity of community / NGOs / 
business / government, to engage
• Responding to demand; managing flow
Thank You!
Questions? Opportunities? !


https://research.library.mun.ca/6240/1/Making.the.Connection.pdf

Making the Connection: Lessons from the Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development, Memorial University

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