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Modern Slavery, Creative Industries and the Cardiff Capital Region: A New Collaboration

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Modern Slavery, Creative Industries and the Cardiff Capital Region: A New Collaboration

Posted on 20 March 2025 by Blogs Admin

The Modern Slavery and Social Sustainability Research Group (MSSS RG) was established and is co-hosted by Cardiff University’s Business School and the Social Science Research Park (SPARK). One of our […]

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SPARKing Change: Being more open?

Posted on 24 February 2025 by Blogs Admin

Open research, open science, open access, whatever the terminology, there is a push within the UK HE sector to be more ‘open’. The open research agenda aims to: Shift research […]

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Developing a cross-sector Community of Practice: A blueprint for sharing knowledge, skills and connections

Posted on 16 December 2024 by hayleytrowbridge

In recent years, cross-sector collaboration has gained increasing prominence within the research world. Within this context, SPARK has been exploring how Communities of Practice (CoPs) can serve as effective structures […]

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Collaboration in Action: Lessons from SPARK’s Interactive Panel at CiviCon24

Posted on 9 December 2024 by Blogs Admin

In June this year, two Research Fellows (Dr Anna Skeels and Dr Sofia Vougioukalou) paired up with two non-academic partners (Dave Horton, independent Consultant / from ACE and Fateha Ahmed […]

 
SPARK Collaboration Sheds Light on ‘Hidden Children’ in Education and Health

SPARK Collaboration Sheds Light on ‘Hidden Children’ in Education and Health

Posted on 21 November 2024 by John Evans

At the Social Science Research Park (SPARK), we champion collaborative research that addresses pressing societal issues. Recently, SPARK-affiliated centres joined forces on a study exploring disparities in education and health […]

Breaking Down Silos: Creating the foundations for localised knowledge and expertise mobilisation between communities and research institutions

Breaking Down Silos: Creating the foundations for localised knowledge and expertise mobilisation between communities and research institutions

Posted on 18 November 2024 by hayleytrowbridge

“It feels very individualistic—lots of separate work going on, not so much collaboration within the sectors let alone across the sectors.” – Cathays Future Lab Attendee. This observation cuts to the […]

SPARK Third Sector Research Partnership

SPARK Third Sector Research Partnership

Posted on 17 October 2024 by Blogs Admin

Dr Anna Skeels from SPARK and Dave Horton (Consultant and ACE) provide the latest update on the Third Sector Research Partnership, a year later. The SPARK Third Sector Research Partnership […]

Time to re-design governance

Time to re-design governance

Posted on 6 October 2024 by Blogs Admin

By Anna Nicholl The challenge: decision-making in a different era Everywhere we turn, it feels like we’re in trouble. Our institutions are either mired in scandal, unable to tackle the […]

SPARK’s strengths shine in REF

SPARK’s strengths shine in REF

Posted on 7 June 2022 by Peter Rawlinson

Top ratings for social science research   The UK’s first social science research community – SPARK – is producing internationally leading work, according to the latest Research Excellent Framework (REF) assessment. REF […]

Igniting ideas: Creating a social science park to tackle major societal challenges

Igniting ideas: Creating a social science park to tackle major societal challenges

Posted on 23 May 2022 by Blogs Admin

Our society is facing many complex challenges, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the climate change emergency. In our world of global connections and complications, we cannot expect such […]