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TREK PROGRAM

About The Trek Program

The Trek Program is a hands-on, eight-week experiential learning program designed for researchers looking to strengthen their industry engagement and collaboration skills. With a strong emphasis on peer coaching, this program offers a structured methodology to help researchers discover and validate the impact potential of their research. 

This program is primarily designed for early- to mid-career researchers but is valuable for researchers at any stage of their career interested in enhancing the relevance and reach of their research. It equips participants with the skills and mindset to move beyond curiosity-driven research and align their research with the needs of industry, government and community stakeholders.  

What will you learn

The Trek Program builds on the Base Program, providing you with the practical tools and frameworks to:

Clearly articulate and validate the value of your research

Build and manage lasting relationships with stakeholders

Strengthen your industry engagement and collaboration skills

Develop and execute targeted engagement strategies.

You'll learn about these tools and frameworks, and get hands-on experience applying them to your research project and engaging with stakeholders. The Trek Program equips you with new tools and frameworks including:

Time commitment

The total time commitment is approximately 30 hours over the eight weeks.

The Trek Program involves:

Self-paced online learning modules

Online cohort-based peer coaching sessions

Discovery conversations with external stakeholders

Final showcase presentation of your impact vision and insights.

Outcomes

By the end of the Trek Program, participants often achieve:

A clearer, more compelling articulation of their impact vision as a researcher

A focused engagement plan for new partnerships with industry, government and/or community organisations

Improved research funding proposals, informed by feedback from research end-users or collaborators

Stronger institutional and stakeholder support for their research.

Learn More
Curious about how the Trek Program has helped other researchers? Explore our case studies to see the impact and insights shared by past participants.

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TREK PROGRAM CASE STUDY

Ready to get started?

Apply now to join the next Trek Program cohort and start discovering the impact potential of your research. 

Not ready to apply? Register your interest and we'll keep you updated on future intakes.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: When will the Trek Program run? A: The Trek Program runs three times each year, typically in April, July, and October (dates are confirmed at the beginning of each year). Each intake is open for a limited period, and spaces are often sponsored by partner universities and research organisations.

Q: How big are the cohorts, and how interactive are the sessions? A: Trek Program cohorts usually consist of 6 to 8 researchers, fostering a small but supportive environment to learn. The workshop sessions are highly interactive, with breakout discussions, collaborative exercises, and regular facilitator feedback.

Q: Who is the Trek Program designed for? A: The Trek Program is for researchers who are ready to move beyond curiosity-driven exploration and into impact-driven research areas. It's valuable for researchers at any stage of their career who want to hone their craft in creating impact with their research.

Q: What if I miss one or two sessions, or fall behind? A: We understand that research commitments vary. It’s strongly recommended that you attend as many live workshops as possible to get the full benefit of peer discussions and facilitator feedback. If you are unable to attend a workshop session, please email the facilitator in advance to make follow-up arrangements.

Q: Do I need my supervisors’ permission to apply to the Trek Program? A: We strongly suggest discussing your participation in the Trek Program with your supervisor before you join. Having your supervisor aware and supportive of your upcoming commitments will help you get the most out of the program.

Q: What’s the difference between the Trek Program and the Base Program? A: The Base Program builds core skills in articulating research value and understanding stakeholder needs. The Trek Program builds on this foundation and focuses on deeper, practical application: > More intensive stakeholder engagement > Peer-coaching and accountability > Developing a targeted engagement strategy > Translating insights into clearer pathways for collaboration, funding, or implementation. The Trek Program is a hands-on program designed to move researchers from “understanding engagement” to practising engagement with key stakeholders.

Q: Do you offer in-person delivery of the Trek Program? A: The Trek Program is offered in a flexible online format that combines live workshops, self-paced learning, and 1:1 coaching between the workshops. For most Trek Program cohorts sponsored by a single university, the final Showcase Event is run in person. Cruxes Innovation also delivers the Trek Program in face-to-face or blended formats for universities and research centres. Please contact us at hello@cruxesinnovation.com if you’d like to host an in-person delivery cohort.

Q: I have 1-4 teammates working with me on the research project, or developing similar or complementary capabilities, who are also impact-motivated and want to increase their impact skills. Is the Trek Program right for us? A: If you are team-based, the Ascend Program might be a better fit for you. Ascend Program participants are project teams of 2-5 people, while the Trek Program focuses on individual researchers. Click here for more information about the Ascend Program, and please contact us at hello@cruxesinnovation.com if you’d like to discuss how the Ascend Program might support your project team.

Q: What support is available after the program ends? A: Graduates become part of the Cruxes Innovation alumni network, giving access to: > Ongoing opportunities for professional development > Invitations to Cruxes alumni events (Impact Pathfinders Event) > Priority access to future programs.

If you’d like to learn more about the Trek Program or explore how it could support your researchers, please reach out to Cruxes Innovation at hello@cruxesinnovation.com

Further Questions

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