Faculty of Research & Knowledge Exchange
Faculty Mission:
The Faculty of Research and Knowledge Exchange was formed to pool the research capability and capacity across universities in the geographical area. Health and Social Care professionals should be delivering contemporary, evidence-based and competent care which is informed by high quality research. Improving the understanding and management of Healthcare has the potential of promoting effective and enhanced care delivery.
Faculty Aim:
To work closely with key stakeholders to simply ensure that the available evidence has a positive impact on the population that it serves. The faculty is supported by a diverse range of colleagues with a wealth of research knowledge and experience in implementing change.
The Three Main Aims of the Faculty of Research and Knowledge Exchange:
Collaboration
Develop and address research priorities in collaboration with local stakeholders.
Accessibility
Pool the research capability & capacity across the Universities in the geographical area.
Knowledge
Deliver an on-going programme of knowledge exchange activities to engender a culture of continuous service improvement.
Dr. Hoda Wassif
Research & Knowledge Exchange Faculty Co-Lead
Associate Professor and Lead – Health Education Portfolio, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Education, University of Bedfordshire
Dr Hoda Wassif is an Associate Professor and Lead for the Health Education Portfolio, part of the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Education. Her role is to offer academic leadership and support related to a range of courses in Pre-Professional and Continuing Health Education including; Advanced Nursing Practice, Nursing Associates, short courses in health systems as well as Medical & Dental Education and Dental Law and Ethics.
Hoda’s research focus on enhancing research methodology, ethics and holistic approach in healthcare. Her latest research project focused on using artefacts in enhancing research interviews.
Hoda is a Senior Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry (FCGDent), an accredited mentor and a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership (FIoL), a member of the editorial board of The Dentist & Dental Nursing Magazines and a member of the Clinical Ethics Committee at Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
Gulen Addis
Research & Knowledge Exchange Faculty Co-Lead
Associate Professor, Buckinghamshire New University
Before joining Buckinghamshire New University in 2010, Gulen worked in the NHS in different roles including clinical nurse specialist in haemoglobinopathies for Imperial Healthcare Trust. Prior to this she received a PhD from the Faculty of Nursing at Hacettepe University in Turkey and was a lecturer there, teaching pre and post registration nursing. At Buckinghamshire New University she leads research and dissertation modules and supervise masters and PhD students. Gulen is a member of the University Ethics Committee.
Her specialist area of research is nursing education, covering professional development and expertise, and nursing management. She has published articles and book chapters and has been a keynote speaker at international conferences. She is also active in service to the profession as a referee for some nursing journals. Gulen's expertise has resulted in collaborative work with the practising profession notably with NHS Trusts and Health Education England (now NHS England). She am a member of Nursing and Midwifery Council and Senior Fellow for the Higher Education of Academy.
The community has scheduled three sessions that are available for registration and joining:
The Research and Knowledge Exchange faculty's Writing Retreats are fully funded and focus on honing the writing for publication skills of attendees. There are workshops, 1-1 peer support, focused individual writing time and the continued support of a mentor extending beyond the retreat to help attendees right through to publication.
The retreats are open to anyone within the health and care system (i.e., students, professionals, clinical and non-clinical personnel, volunteers, community workers, etc.) but there are a limited number of spaces available for each retreat and attendees will be offered a place following a review of all applications once the application window has closed.
If you have any queries, or would like to be notified when the next writing retreat is confirmed and open for application, please email bht.bhsca-info@nhs.net with an expression of interest.
The Writing Retreats are delivered by the Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) Team at Buckinghamshire New University's School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Read about the GTA team in more detail here
Previous Research & Knowledge Exchange faculty Writing Retreats
The first Research and Knowledge Exchange faculty Writing Retreat was held in October 2023 and was attended by colleagues from across health and social care in Bucks, with acute care, social care, the voluntary sector, HEI and FE representation.
The second faculty Writing Retreat was held in May 2024. The retreat was again, well attended by colleagues representing local HEIs and FE colleges, research, AHPS, the VCSE sector and BOB ICB.
The third Research and Knowledge Exchange faculty Writing Retreat was held in November 2024 withheld BHSCA's vision of being a representation across the local health and social care landscape, and included independent care home staff for the first time as well.
All previous retreat participants are continually supported over the 6-12 months immediately following the retreat and beyond by other attendees and the BNU GTA team from our partner HEIs - Buckinghamshire New University and University of Bedfordshire in a writing community.
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The faculty and Academy have every intention on regularly holding these events and will widely circulate information and applications on this website and through established networks as and when the information is available.
Research & Knowledge Exchange's 'Evaluation Webinar'
Recorded on 16/03/2022
Working on a service evaluation or thinking of starting one? Look no further, this webinar is just for you!
Please enjoy the recording below of the outstanding speakers including Professor Gurch Randhawa, Dr Yannis Pappas, and Professor Angel Chater, and chaired by Dr Louise Grant from University of Bedfordshire, for the first BHSCA Evaluation Webinar!
My Wellbeing Series
This series has been produced by Dr Yannis Pappas and Prof Julia Williams of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Faculty to offer short public-facing, informational videos on a range of topics concerning well-being. Please enjoy the series' first three chapters below. Thank you!
Chapter 1: Ageing Well
The first chapter of episodes is presented by Dr. Jitka Vseteckova from the Open University and she is an expert in the subject of 'Ageing Well'.
The Ageing Well Chapter will be presented in six fascinating episodes of:
(1) Nutrition (2) Hydration (3) Physical Activity (4) Cognitive Stimulation (5) Social Stimulation (6) Pharmaceutical Therapy.
Please scroll through to access all the video links.
Chapter 2: Bowel Cancer
The second chapter of episodes is presented by Manju Khanna, she is Senior Macmillan Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at London Northwest University Hospital Trust.
The Bowel Cancer Chapter will be presented in three highly informative episodes of:
(1) What is Bowel Cancer? (2) Symptoms of Bowel Cancer (3) Causes & Risk Factors of Bowel Cancer
Please scroll through to access all the video links.
Chapter 3: Art and Wellbeing
The third chapter of episodes is presented by Jo Vincent, she is a stroke survivor, artist, and part-time art teacher.
The Art & Wellbeing Chapter will be presented in four motivational episodes of:
(1) Benefits of Drawing with Illness or Injury (2) Using Art to Adapt to Long-term Illness or Disability (3) Painting for Managing Pain (4) Building Confidence & Self Esteem by joining Creative Communities
Episodes 2-4 coming soon!
Please scroll through to access all the video links.
10 Lecture Series:
Research & Innovations Supporting the
Health & Social Care Workforce
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