Communicating Impact of Collaborations

Communicating the value of university-business collaboration is just as important as delivering successful partnerships. Whether you are reporting to senior leadership, engaging external partners, demonstrating value to funders, or inspiring future collaborators, the ability to communicate impact clearly and convincingly can strengthen relationships, attract new opportunities, and increase institutional recognition.

In this interactive masterclass, you will explore practical strategies for communicating the impact of your university-business collaborations to a wide range of stakeholders. Through examples, discussion, and hands-on activities, you will learn how to identify compelling evidence, translate outcomes into meaningful narratives, and tailor your message for different audiences.The session will provide practical tools and proven approaches to help you showcase the value of your collaborations in ways that are credible, engaging, and aligned with your communication objectives.

This masterclass is designed for:

• Professional staff working in research partnerships, knowledge exchange, innovation, communications, or external engagement.
• University leaders and managers responsible for collaboration, partnerships, and demonstrating institutional impact.
• Academic staff involved in collaborative research, industry engagement, or innovation projects.
• Industry partners, policymakers, funding organisations, and intermediary organisations working with universities.

By participating in this masterclass, you will learn how to:

1. Translate collaboration outcomes into clear, meaningful insights for different stakeholder groups.
2. Identify the evidence and indicators that best demonstrate the impact of university-business collaborations.
3. Develop compelling impact stories that communicate not only what was achieved, but why it matters.
4. Select the most effective communication channels and formats for internal and external audiences.
5. Adapt your messaging for senior leaders, academics, industry partners, funders, policymakers, students, and the wider community.
6. Apply practical techniques to strengthen the visibility, credibility, and influence of your collaboration activities.

Dr. Balzhan Orazbayeva, Director of Research and Training at UIIN

Balzhan works to unlock the impact of universities in society and to strengthen how universities and companies collaborate to drive that impact. As Director of Research & Training at UIIN, she leads the strategic direction of the organisation’s research and training portfolio, using it as a foundation for broader services and engagement with both higher education institutions and industry partners. She also leads key initiatives, including UIIN’s Pathway to Impact Institutional Programme and the UIIN Business Group, bringing universities and companies together to co-create solutions for meaningful impact.

UIIN Masterclasses are live, interactive workshops designed to provide in-depth learning on key topics related to university-industry collaboration. Led by experts, these sessions combine guided discussions, hands-on exercises, and peer learning to help participants develop practical strategies and skills.