“Collaboration is essential for research to be useful and responsive” – Yorkshire academics embracing cross-sector working
In this episode of “Gerrin’ on wi’ it,” host Dr Andy Mycock speaks with Professor Joe Cook from the University of Hull about what makes collaboration work in research and community engagement.
Joe leads the Communities in their Places cross-cutting theme for the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP), working with local authorities, voluntary organisations, and residents across Yorkshire and the Humber. She discusses Hull’s “flipped university” model that prioritises community needs, the art of listening over ivory tower thinking, and building trust by not overpromising.
Drawing on projects from Local Area Coordination to cost of living crisis research, Joe illustrates how participatory action research bridges gaps between stakeholders with competing pressures – and why the most powerful research reflects lived experiences and delivers tangible outcomes for real people, not just academic publications.
About the Podcast
“Gerrin’ on wi’ it” is a podcast series brought to you by YPIP, Y-PERN and the Leeds University Business school’s Research and Innovation podcast about collaboration in Yorkshire and the Humber which showcases the people, partnerships, and ideas driving collaborative change across the region. The title – a Yorkshire phrase meaning “getting on with it” – captures the spirit of practical, no-nonsense collaboration that characterises the region’s approach to tackling complex challenges.
Hosted by Dr Andy Mycock and Paul Hayes, the series explores how universities, local authorities, combined authorities, and communities work together to address shared priorities – from economic growth and early years education to community wellbeing and regional development. At its heart, the podcast tells the story of Yorkshire and the Humber as England’s trailblazer for academic-policy engagement.
Find out more about the series here
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Transcripts of all episodes are available. Download the transcript for this episode here
