Successful pilot of Extended Interchange Project MA
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At the start of the 2022-23 academic year, the Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology launched a pilot for a 60-credit year-long alternative to the standard MA Dissertation called SOCI530: Extended Interchange Project.
This module builds on the well-established model for allowing undergraduate students to engage in collaborative projects between the internal charity Interchange and local voluntary and community organisations in Merseyside. MA students get to undertake a project that allows them to produce pertinent research to support the real-world needs of charities and the people within their communities.
The pilot was undertaken by a sole MA Social Research Methods student, Rhian Davies, with the support of academics Andrew Kirton and Louise Hardwick. Rhian worked with voluntary community organisation Woodvale and Ainsdale Community Association to study the impact of the centre’s services in reducing social exclusion and isolation.
Talking about her experience, Rhian said her project “showed how vitally important places such as Woodvale and Ainsdale Community Association are in addressing certain issues and creating a wider sense of community cohesion”.
Rhian previously studied Sociology and Social Policy as an undergraduate, gaining knowledge of conducting social projects with various research methods. Rhian built on this within her MA project by exploring “creative methods, such as the walking interview”.
Andrew Kirton, the chair of Interchange and module leader, endorses the module for both its academic and vocational benefits. He said: “This new MA module is an extremely exciting development that will see our Masters students undertake larger scale and more challenging research projects. It will provide these students with an opportunity to put the high-level research skills they are developing as part of the MA programme into practice. In doing so, they stand to make extremely valuable contributions to the local organisations and communities they serve”.
The Director of Interchange, Louise Hardwick, is very vocal about the benefits Interchange has on local communities. She said: “As well as enhancing the student’s applied social research skills and life experience, this module is designed to be of real benefit to a community partner. This relies on collaborative processes throughout.
"These begin with the research problem being identified by the partner, leading to a learning agreement between the parties in which the proposed design, methods, dissemination strategy, and acknowledgements are agreed upon. Throughout, the student has regular meetings with both the community partner and academic supervisor to work towards a rigorously researched and evidence-informed report for both academic credit and use by the community partner. In other words, research that has impact and the potential to effect change for the better for the local community”.
Sarah Proctor, manager of the Woodvale and Ainsdale Community Association, found the experience to be both positive and beneficial. She said: "The information Rhian has gathered through her work with us will be invaluable to our organisation when reporting about the impact we have on our local community”. When asked about any future collaboration with Interchange, Sarah said, “I would recommend this programme to other organisations, it has been a great experience, and we’re looking forward to working with Interchange again in the future”.
So, what comes after? What can you do with this project experience? After completing her MA, Rhian gained a place on the Think Ahead graduate scheme, where she is working towards becoming a mental health social worker. She credits Interchange with expanding her employment opportunities. She stated, “I have no doubt that my Interchange project helped me get here, as it has given me experience in planning and conducting research, problem-solving and discussing sensitive and complicated topics with a range of people”.
We all wish Rhian the best in her future and thank her for her outstanding contribution to this pilot module.
The ‘Extended Interchange Project MA’ is now open to applications for the forthcoming academic year. If you are interested in learning practical research methods while positively contributing to social justice, look no further and submit your application. If you need additional advice and guidance, please message interchange@liverpool.ac.uk to arrange a conversation with one of our coordinators.