University membership
Build knowledge for evidence-informed practice into undergraduate social work course content and postgraduate study and keep staff and students up to date with live policy and practice issues.
Membership offer
University membership offers students, course leaders and researchers access to peer-reviewed publications, multimedia learning resources, engagement activities and support in a fast-changing social care policy and practice landscape. By using Research in Practice materials, you can ensure that teaching programmes speak directly to core learning and development requirements. Contact us to find out how your university can join.
Tailored content
A dedicated university hub offers access to evidence-informed content, tailored to the needs of researchers, teaching staff, faculty, and students in social care.
Learning events and network exchange
Opportunities to join learning, knowledge sharing, and peer support events led by our Partner Engagement Team.
Access via SSO authentication
Easy access to online learning for all university students, research active and teaching staff, and wider faculty, authorised via single-sign-on (SSO) authentication, directly aligning to electronic library systems.
An annual programme of learning resources and activities
New learning resources and activities are programmed across the year, informed by consultation with our Partner network to address priority topics.
- Written materials – peer-reviewed, quality-assured publications in bite-size and long-read formats, designed to meet a range of learning needs. Includes practice guides, briefings to inform strategic development, and evidence reviews on specific topics.
- Multimedia materials – resources in a range of formats such as podcasts, videos and animations.
- Learning Pathways – structured self-directed learning journeys with summaries,
tools, case studies and reflective questions to build skills and knowledge. - Research, case law and policy – insights, reflections and summaries on case law, key developments in social care policy and research and their implications for practice.
- The extensive library of learning resources – Our online learning materials are directly informed by practice leaders across the sector. Curated resources and programmes meet the learning needs of social care professionals from student and early career to practice and system leadership. Ideal teaching tools in a university environment.
- Networking opportunities with university members – bringing together subject librarians, researchers and faculty members from across the Research in Practice university membership network, the annual University Partnership Meeting shares knowledge on using Research in Practice resources in undergraduate course content, showcases research impact work co-produced with Research in Practice and provides an opportunity for partner feedback so we can continue to improve our offer to universities.
- Rolling programme of member engagement – easy access, drop-in sessions online.
- Practice pointers – topic-led bitesize learning events that draw together and share key messages
from Research in Practice resources on priority topics, ideal for students.
- How to use Research in Practice – guiding users to get the most out of membership. - Functionality to support student learning and professional development – create and export CPD logs to evidence against professional standards (e.g. Social Work England, Health & Care Professions Council). Practice standards and frameworks –search and filter resources mapped to practice standards and frameworks including the social work post-qualifying standards and the Professional Capabilities Frameworks.
University case studies
Read more from our members on how membership to Research in Practice supports them.
I have often used Research in Practice resources with qualified social workers undertaking practice education modules, mostly when asking them to consider critical reflection and reflective supervision. I am not alone in using these resources and I know that in our region many local authority practice development consultants also reference them.
I also use the resources in my teaching with masters social work students, for example when considering relationship based practice, difficult conversations in social care, adult attachment, and working with people who self neglect. The resources are evidence informed, accessible, informative and practically useful.
Research in Practice Partner
I am currently using Research in Practice podcasts, legal case summaries and strategic briefings to update my knowledge on all areas of social work practice with children and families.
The ‘Children and families topic flyers’ from the Link Officer toolkit are a great place to find subject-specific resources. I have used models and updated research from the resources in my teaching and will continue to do so.
Research in Practice Partner
