Given the importance of knowledge valorisation for junior researchers, our brokers, Dr. Agnieszka Kazimierczuk and Sasha Al Busaidy, conducted a training session on stakeholder mapping at Wageningen University. Held on May 26th, this event brought together PhD students from the NWO funded SDG interactions project, where the vital connection between research and real-world impact was unveiled.
During the interactive session, the significance of stakeholder mapping for research valorisation took center stage. The students were equipped with tools to craft their own stakeholder maps. The timing of the session proved opportune, coinciding with the launch of their fieldwork.
Three exemplary stakeholder mapping techniques—The Alignment-Impact-Influence Matrix, the Interest-Impact Matrix, and Relationship Mapping—were shared, and students were invited to adopt these approaches to their own research goals. Encouraging lively discussions, the session delved into the nuances of effective stakeholder engagement. Beyond traditional academic communication, we encouraged the students to explore knowledge products such as fact sheets and two-pagers, facilitating their research promotion and self-empowerment.
Recognizing the value of early-stage co-creation, Dr. Kazimierczuk, drawing from her own experience as a PhD candidate, served as a valuable resource, fostering a vibrant learning environment. In July, a follow-up session is scheduled, when our brokers will provide students with personalized feedback on their stakeholder maps and guidance on effective stakeholder engagement. This continued support reinforces a key tenant of the knowledge brokering and synthesis team; to nurture knowledge co-creation, utilization and valorisation.
By building the capacity for knowledge valorisation, we empower these students to go beyond academia. Given the practical and applied character of the PhD research projects, students were highly motivated to embrace co-creation from the initial stages of their research. They were encouraged to foster meaningful connections with policy and practice stakeholders, nurturing collaborations that will shape their projects and amplify their impact.
A positive outcome of this session was planting the seeds for future collaborations. We are excited to witness the continued growth of these junior researchers as they embrace co-creation and shape their projects to create a lasting impact.
For more information on the research project, you can visit this page on our website.