A Special Edition of the Mug of Research short films has been released on ‘How to achieve impact and ensure policy change’. In celebration of its publication, the full Mug of Research series has been re-released with updated edits. They are available here on the Aberystwyth University YouTube channel.
Mug of Research is a video series produced by Dr Amy Sanders from Aberystwyth University. It shares research findings with government policymakers and third sector practitioners. This latest film is also intended for academics who aim to achieve policy impact. The innovative approach that underlies these short films is to share research using appropriate and accessible language for busy senior practitioners in the time that it would take them to take a coffee break.
The latest Mug of Research film captures the full range of sophisticated policy influencing tools that are being used effectively by the third sector to shape Welsh policymaking and advance equality. It ends with a series of practical recommendations for how to achieve sustained policy impact. It was piloted at a training event organised by Dr Victoria Winkler and the Bevan Foundation where leading practitioners from the equalities third sector contributed to the dialogue about how to hone its development.
Input from participants led to such improvements as better visual cues to accompany the spoken word, and clever use of an emptying mug animation in the bottom left of the screen to show how far along the film is at any given point. It was premiered at a policy impact training event for researchers in Aberystwyth University in association with the Dialogue Centre. Practitioner comments included:
“Brilliant. We need more of this. We rarely know about what research has taken place.”
“The videos are great for sharing the information without being condescending. The bitesize chunks make them an easy watch.”
“Very engaging – lots of information in a condensed format.”
“Charming bite-sized videos to watch on a lunch break. Will be sharing with colleagues.”
“It’s a good form of communication especially in holding attention span of professionals.”
A Welsh language version of all the original Mug of Research films has also been released. Other new edits to the original series include the addition of English subtitles to improve accessibility. The films cover subjects ranging from equality policymaking, applying equality of opportunity to government structures, achieving intersectionality in policymaking, understanding equalities representation and examining third sector-government relationships.
This has all been made possible thanks to a Research Wales Innovation Fund. It was supported by the Dialogue Centre in Aberystwyth University, which aims to support innovation in collaborative knowledge exchange. The latest edited versions were driven forward by Cara Rainbow in her Centre for Welsh Politics and Society work.
A new series of Mug of Research films covering other WISERD civil society research is forthcoming. Further details can be requested from Amy Sanders.