Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Summer School

Registration is open

Join us in Exeter from 1st – 3rd July 2026

Venue – Mercure Exeter Southgate Hotel, Southernhay E, Exeter EX1 1QF

Delegate fees

• Early Bird Rate – £475 – Early Birds also enjoy reduced accommodation costs – click here to learn more (available until 31 March 2026)
• Standard Rate – £550

This unique, three-day, in-person PPIE Summer School is hosted by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaborations South West Peninsula (PenARC). Furthermore, co-designed and delivered by academics and public collaborators, it offers a rare opportunity to explore the values that underpin Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE).

The course combines theory, reflection, and practical exploration in a supportive learning environment. Throughout the three immersive days, you will move from foundational principles and power dynamics, through creative and relational approaches to involvement, to reflecting on leadership and culture in their own practice and the contexts in which they work.

The PPIE Summer School is designed for people undertaking or supporting health or care research from early career researchers to senior academics, PPIE leads and facilitators. It is also relevant to those who are new to public involvement and would like to begin.

Throughout the course, you will be supported within a safe, collaborative learning space that encourages shared learning, openness and reflection.

Fees include all three days of teaching, course materials, daily lunch and refreshments; plus an evening meal and welcome drink on the first day

Why this course matters

PPIE in research continues to gain importance in health and care research. In particular, it gives people with experience of illnesses and service use the opportunity to add their knowledge to research. Moreover, it also creates an ethos of equality where patients and members of the public work with researchers as partners – in ways that are ‘for’ or ‘with’ them, rather than ‘to’ or ‘about’ them.

Finally, it is an important means by which people can have a say in publicly funded research and be given the opportunity to make decisions, shape, and learn more about research.

This course is an opportunity to explore beyond the numbers and the rhetoric of PPIE. We will examine innovative and honest ways of generating and spreading knowledge. We will also explore how to foster the uptake of this knowledge through partnerships with care sectors, the public and communities – partnerships that reflect creativity and justice.

Who is it for?

This unique interdisciplinary course is relevant to people undertaking health or care research, including PhD students and those in PPIE co-ordinator/facilitator roles. Equally, it is also relevant to people who are not currently involving members of the public in their work but would like to do so. Linking research and practice, the course is tailored to those who are working across different disciplines in medicine, health and social care, and public health.

If you are seeking to strengthen partnerships, deepen your understanding of PPIE values, or embed creativity and justice within your work, this course is for you.

Programme at a glance

Throughout the three days, participants will engage in small-group discussions, creative exercises, case-based learning and structured reflection, supported by experienced facilitators.

• Explore the values and principles underpinning PPIE
• Examine creativity as a method and ethos in research partnerships
• Reflect on justice, equity and power in involvement practice
• Engage in practical, skills-based activities
• Share learning across disciplines and roles
• Ultimately, develop new ideas to apply in your own research or organisational contexts

This is an overview of the event and although the organisers may make changes and add more detail, the essence of the programme will be unchanged.

Delivery format

The PPIE Summer School is a three-day, in-person course held in Exeter.

Specifically, the Summer School combines:

• Interactive workshops
• Small group work
• Reflective learning
• Creative and practice-based sessions
• Opportunities for shared discussion with academics and public collaborators

The emphasis, therefore, is on creating a safe, supportive space for dialogue, reflection and collaborative learning.

Facilitators

The PPIE Summer School is co-designed and delivered by a collaborative group with a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

• Academics
• Clinicians
• Public collaborators
• Facilitators with expertise in creativity and participatory practice
• Please see further speaker details below.