Gathering views of international public and community engagement with research across Africa and India

Apologies if this is coals to Newcastle, but this seems so relevant to the questions under consideration and, I would suggest, is significant for illustrating a consistency of findings of recent Wellcome considerations of 'Engagement' in its international programme from a variety of sources. Like Dalberg, it suggests interest in the Engagement, along with a lack of resources, guidance or expertise in its delivery and the diversity of purposes for which it may be applied.

• A short survey requesting views on public engagement with research was sent to 40 international contacts in April 2016. The survey received a 78% response rate.
• A mixture of engagement specialists and researchers across India and Africa answered the survey.
• 39% of respondents were based in India and 61% across Africa.
• There was clear interest and commitment to public engagement and 83% of respondents said that they would like to spend more time engaging with the public.
• However 55% of those surveyed said that their institution had no formal public engagement strategy or policy and 38% had no dedicated public engagement staff.
• Survey results highlighted 5 key areas that could help improve support for public engagement in their region: increased availability of funding, dedicated staff, senior management support, training and organisational structures.
• 5 respondents were interviewed over the phone and further emphasised a lack of training and a lack of time and organisational support to engage with the public.
• Interestingly African respondents highlighted gaps in training and time as the main challenges to engaging with the public whereas Indian respondents and interviewees raised key issues of a lack of awareness and interest in public engagement indicating a regional difference in the support needed.
• African respondents also focused on changing policy and engaging with research communities while Indian respondents aimed engagement at school children.
• Solutions and recommendations for Wellcome include supporting public engagement specialists at programmes and institutions, offering an online toolkit for public engagement for researchers and cross-regional, cross-discipline training sessions and collaboration opportunities.