LEAP Digital Health Hub kicked off in January with an in-person meeting for institutional partners at One Cathedral Square, the Hub’s home in Bristol. The University of Bristol team welcomed Hub colleagues from University of Bath, Cardiff University, UWE Bristol, University of Exeter and Health Data Research UK (HDR UK).
Hub Director, Professor Ian Craddock, facilitated the activities starting with a playful icebreaker. Using a design prompt from the fantastic Protobot, attendees worked in teams to build ‘a toaster for a dog’ using Lego™. After showcasing their creations, the groups moved on to the first session of the meeting.
The activity focused on the Skills and Knowledge programme. The task involved answering questions based on a hypothetical ‘LEAP Learner’. Each group discussed study patterns, course design and the added value of signing up through the Hub. They considered the type of courses that learners might want to access for career progression or to boost organisational performance.
The second session moved the conversation to the Fellowships programme. Again, using hypothetical ‘personas’ as a jumping off point for investigating the questions. Discussion points included motivations, the funding or resource that potential fellows might look for, duration, and support needed for success. The groups also considered how a fellowship might fit an applicant’s existing job role and employer.
Following a quick coffee break, we moved onto the third and final session of the afternoon. This time, the group applied the ‘persona’ activity to the Research programme. Case studies combined earlier used ‘personas’ to work on hypothetical collaborative projects. The task required each group to produce a potential outline proposal that the Hub could fund. Questions focused on resources needed, duration, outcomes, impact and the benefits for partner organisations.
It was a valuable afternoon and a great opportunity for the partner team to get to know each other better. Meeting in person allowed space for in-depth discussions about details of the key programmes. The group also had a chance to reflect on opportunities and future challenges for LEAP.