As part of the European Commission funded, Ulab project, the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford is organizing an online competition to identify the most innovative outreach and public engagement activities that have been carried out by European Universities. Outreach and public engagement are defined in the broadest sense to incorporate all forms of interaction with individuals and organisations outside the university. Examples of outreach and public engagement may include initiatives that engage with school children and / or their teachers, interactions with commercial organisations that lead to new technological developments, or activities that connect with policy makers and support the policy making process.

Both individuals and groups may apply for awards. Competition submissions must be for an activity that has been initiated and sustained at any university or higher education institution within Europe, including projects that might have involved collaboration with institutions outside the EU. The entry can be from one or a number of cooperating universities.

The three winning entries will each receive a 5000 EUR prize for their institution plus funding for a representative to attend the award ceremony at the University of Oxford on 8 June 2012.

Read the Press Release (pdf) [ English | French | Italian | German | Spanish ]

Submission Requirements

For each entry, please submit:

• A 1000 word description and evaluation (in English) of your outreach and engagement project, making sure you address all of the assessment criteria (listed below), including links to any relevant information (which can be in any European language).
• A 150 word abstract in English.
• A letter from your host institution, indicating their agreement for the case to be submitted to the competition. The letter should be from an appropriate person within the senior management of the department or university. For example, a departmental chair, the vice-rector or pro-vice chancellor responsible for such activity, or equivalent.

Judgement Criteria

Entries will be judged by a panel nominated by ULab partners as well as by public vote. Entries will be judged on the following equally weighted criteria:

• Clarity of purpose: A clear definition of the objectives of the project; awareness of, and strategies to meet, the needs of different target audiences.
• Impact: Reporting and evaluation of the impact of the initiative; making use of quantitative measures (such as attendance rates, web traffic, surveys) and / or qualitative ones (such as interviews, focus groups).
• Originality: Evidence of creativity and originality, including innovative ways of measuring impact.
• Sustainability: Evidence of sustainability for future use by your own institution or by others (e.g. through open access, open licensing).

Eligibility

Both individuals and groups may apply for awards. The submission must be for an activity that has been initiated and sustained at any university within Europe, including projects that might have involved collaboration with institutions outside the EU. The entry can be from one or a number of cooperating universities.

Submission Deadline

The submission process for entries has closed.

Terms and Conditions

Competition entries are subject to the following terms and conditions:

• The submission concerns an activity that has been initiated and sustained at any university within Europe, including projects that might involve collaboration with institutions outside the EU.
• All entries must be submitted in English, but there will the opportunity to upload additional materials that can be in any language.
  The competition will be open to anyone from any university across Europe. Awards will be made to institutions, or units within particular institutions, rather than to individuals.
• All eligible entries will be made public and this will then form a permanent online repository of good practice in outreach.
  The supporting letter from the host institution should be from an appropriate person within the senior management of the department or university. For example, a departmental chair, the vice-rector or pro-vice chancellor responsible for such activity, or equivalent.
• Any individual or group from any university in Europe may submit an entry. The case must have been already initiated or carried out, not an idea to be implemented in the future.
• The judges’ decision is final.