Whether externally as a way of recruiting schools or researchers internally to raise the profile of engagement across the university or school, publicity can be invaluable. However, it can be an extra cost so it is worth thinking carefully about what you want to achieve. There are various departments within the university that will be able to help you produce publicity material such as digital communications and the print department.

Method	Advantages	Disadvantages
Flyers and posters	Allows you to focus on a particular area or event you wish to publicise. Can be distributed widely by post or email and displayed in strategic places.	Some time commitment and small cost implications. Large scale mailing may also be time consuming.
Emails	Small time and cost implications. Can be targeted to specific individuals/organisations. Electronic flyers can be used to make them more eye catching. Can reach a large number of people.	Relatively low success rate unless very specifically targeted or intended for raising general awareness rather than actual participation.
Web content	Good for internal publicity. Flexible in terms of content. If done well can add to ‘buzz’ around a project or event.	Out of date quickly. Time consuming to keep up to date. Can be difficult to arrange depending on institutional restrictions. Must be easy to find.
Newsletters	Raises general awareness of your partnership or other engagement work and inspires others to take part. Can ask different people to contribute including pupils, teachers and researchers.	Time commitment to produce regularly (although can reduce this by submitting articles to existing newsletters). Cost implications, particularly if printing physical copies.
Case studies	Raise general awareness of your partnership or other engagement work and inspire others to take part. Can be used in different ways once produced – newsletters, web content etc.	Can be politics involved if expressing something from a particular point of view if aim is to produce a realistic representation of issues rather than just celebrate something you have been involved with.
Social media	Up to date information to make people feel more involved. If done well can add to ‘buzz’ around a project or event.	Time commitment to keep updated regularly. Relies on there being enough happening to keep it looking interesting.
Celebration events or showcases	Create a very positive atmosphere and provide concrete examples of why people should get involved. Increase profile by inviting school management, parents, senior academics etc.	Time consuming to organise. Potential cost implications for catering, room hire etc.
Networking	Allows you to reach a large amount of people. Also helps you be more aware of what else is going on that may be relevant. Can be done at events and conferences you may be going to anyway. Face to face contacts and word of mouth are often the most successful method of getting your work noticed.	Returns are often not immediate.

 

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