Microgrants/University of Manchester Outreach

University of Manchester Outreach - 14th July 2011

Overview

After the success of the Imperial College collaboration between myself and Vinesh Patel, I am hoping to recreate this with the University of Manchester, as their Information Skills Co-ordinator is looking to collaborate with us. The purpose of this meeting would be to establish what kinds of collaboration the library is interested in. However, the initial email exchange indicates that they would be interested in the following:

• Creating a student-run Wikipedia Society
• Donating materials to our archives
• Participating in 'Wikipedia Surgeries' - where students could learn how to use Wikipedia productively with regards to their studies.
• Engaging the academic community of the university in Wikipedia-related projects (e.g. donating information and expertise to the project)

Update

The library's information department are very keen on this and they will all be attending. A full presentation will be given on what we can offer them and what we would like them to offer us

Budget

• £38.90 - For train tickets for me to travel from Coventry to Manchester for the day

• £30.00 - Although I am not looking for a job with Wikimedia UK (I know you're not advertising), I also know from my experience with Imperial College that supporting the growth of a Wikipedian Society is a full-time position. For this reason I am asking for compensation for my time whilst I am away from home and 'selling' to the colleges.

Promoting and supporting these societies involves at the very least the following:

• Creating and organising presentations to show to academics/librarians/students to 'sell' Wikipedia
• Creating leaflets to be handed out to the student population
• Organising Wikipedians for more formal events (e.g. a fresher's fair stall or a leafleting campaign)
• Teaching students/faculty how to use Wikipedia as a representative of project as a whole
• Organising GLAM-style events to gain access to the organisation's historical archives etc.

Though many of these things can and should be developed by committee, the committee still requires a leading hand and this is a task I am more than willing to undertake. After my success collaborating with Vinesh at Imperial College, I have no doubt that this project will also be a success which, if anything like Imperial College, will gain good press and standing for Wikimedia UK as a whole.

Expected outcomes

I expect that the initial meeting will provide us with a clear indication of what the university is willing to provide as well as a clear map of how to go forward with this collaboration. I anticipate that the university will want leaflets and other media from us, and that we will also be able to arrange dates for 'Wikipedia Surgeries' as well as open up the possibility of having a stall at the fresher's fair on campus. I also expect that the initial meeting will provide us with contacts within the university with which we can expand the inital project (e.g. enthusiastic academics willing to support Wikipedia/a student group)

Who I am

Hello! I am User:Panyd on the English Wikipedia. I applied for many microgrants for Imperial College, but that was with the old board. I am a very enthusiastic Wikipedian with a knack for selling. If you have any questions about my involvement with Imperial or what I hope to acheive both at or after Manchester University, please feel free to email me or put something in the discussion board here.

Discussion

Sounds great to me! The Land 12:35, 7 July 2011 (UTC)

Happy to approve the travel element; I'll have to get back to you on the other part, though... Mike Peel 18:43, 9 July 2011 (UTC)

More than fair enough :) Panyd 22:57, 9 July 2011 (UTC)

Report

The report was emailed to WMUK off-wiki.