The Bristol Model

Woman assisting student at desktop computer

Putting students at the heart of knowledge exchange to address social and economic challenges

The Bristol Model project

The Bristol Model is a series of research projects that aim to evidence the student benefits of Knowledge Exchange (KE), to share good KE practice, and to improve future KE activities in Higher Education.

The Bristol Model programme consists of six co-produced research projects designed in collaboration with external partner organisations. The projects enable undergraduate students to gain experience of Social Sciences research as ‘Research Assistants’. Participating students work with leading academics, bridging the gap between teaching, learning and research. 

There is a seventh, overarching project that evaluates the effectiveness of the Bristol Model on KE. This evaluative project analyses and evidences the direct benefits of KE activity on students, recent graduates and external partner organisations, with a strong focus on reducing barriers to entry for students from widening participation backgrounds.

The Bristol Model is a response to a funding competition by the Office for Students and Research England.

The projects

Creating a better understanding of youth and organisational resilience to improve efficacy of council interventions

  • PI: Dr Jo Staines
  • Research Associate: Dr Jack Nicholls
  • Partner organisation: Bristol City Council

Using data to better understand interactions in local communities and social enterprises

  • PI: Professor Morag McDermont
  • Research Associate: Dr Jack Nicholls
  • Partner organisation: Wellspring Settlement

Creating a road map towards race equality through the Research Action Coalition for Race Equality (RACE)

  • PI: Dr Saffron Karlsen
  • Research Associate: Angelique Retief
  • Partner organisation: Black South West Network

VCSE sector’s performance/contribution during the Covid-19 pandemic

  • PI: Professor Martin Parker
  • Research Associate: Dr John McGoldrick
  • Partner organisation: Voscur

Worker Anticipation of Future Risks in Bristol

  • PI: Dr Harry Pitts
  • Research Associate: Maddie Kurchik
  • Partner organisation: Institute for the Future of Work

Co-creating a digital readiness assessment tool for businesses in the West of England

  • PI: Dr Katharina Burger
  • Research Associate: Jess Brown
  • Partner organisation: West of England Combined Authority

Evaluative project: The Bristol Model: putting students at the heart of social science knowledge exchange

  • Project leads: Pat Triggs and Wan Ching Yee