1. Engaging Scottish Local Authorities Sharing knowledge: building impact Process and Impact Review Investigators: Irene Hardill and Tony Kelly (Nottingham Trent University, Sue Baines and Ryan Woolrych (Manchester Metropolitan University)

2. Review Aims • To review the processes and procedures carried out by the KE projects, and to document their achievements; • To work closely with the KE projects across Scotland to support their work with timely and relevant feedback; • To provide the means by which the scheme as a whole can reflect upon and maximise learning from the processes of knowledge exchange between HEIs and local authorities; • To collate key learning points from the scheme for a wider audience of national stakeholders; • To develop indicators of success in knowledge exchange that are meaningful across local government, national government and HE, and that will demonstrate impact on services, professional work practices and citizens.

3. Activities Phase One: Baseline and metrics (months 1 – 3, October-December 2009) • Desk research • Interviews with project leaders • First learning workshop (February 12th 2010) • Online collaboration but …. Phase Two: Process and implementation (months 4 – 9, January-June 2010) Monitor the processes of engagement, and observe and record how KE is made sense of within the five funded projects and across the scheme. We are: • Undertaking about 30 Interviews • Observing/participating 5 project events • Second learning workshop (June 11th) – worked with Coordination team

4. Work in progress to date • Phase 1 – interviewed PIs, attended one event, organised first workshop, met with key stakeholders • Phase 2 – observed 3 events (2 more planned); 13 interviews thus far

5. Emerging issues to discuss • The changed economic climate; workloads of practice staff (juggling day job and project), timescales (planning and preparation time) • The wide geographical reach of the Scheme – some involve more than one LA partner, some projects see neighbouring LAs engaging • Some projects involving other stakeholders – voluntary sector, community groups, residents • Partnership working – clarity, mutual understanding, negotiating timescales, trust – AND practical benefits emerging • Dissonance between academic theory and practical application; use of language • Information sharing – keeping partners informed on progress • Delivering the placements flexibly (time demands) when they work they really do demonstrate – tangible commitment rather than once off event • Demonstrating impact, capturing impact – what does success look like?

6. Acknowledgements • The project teams and partners • Co-ordinating team • The Funders