What do we mean when we
talk about IMPACT?
IAS Public Engagement and Impact
6th November 2014
Aims of the Session
• Why has ‘impact’ become an important
concept in research in UK Universities?
• What does this actually mean for us?
• What does ‘impact’ actually look like?
• What happens next…….
Definitions
• HEFCE Research Excellence Framework
‘an effect on, change or benefit to the
economy, society, culture, public policy or
services, health, the environment or quality
of life, beyond academia.’
Impact case studies account for 20% of
the weighting in the REF
Definitions
• Research Councils UK
‘the demonstrable contribution that excellent
research makes to society and the economy, e.g.
Fostering global economic performance and
specifically the economic competitiveness of the
United Kingdom
Increasing the effectiveness of public services
and policy
Enhancing quality of life, health and creative
output’
What does ‘impact’ look like?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Commercialising new technologies
New medical treatments/interventions
Improvements in professional practice
Inputs to policy-making
Improvements in public services
Promoting greater understanding of cultures and
heritage
• Public engagement with and understanding of
research
Impact Resources
Online ‘Resource Bank’ (Social Sciences)
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/staffreso
urces/impactresourcebank/
Impact Acceleration Account
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/impact/ia
a/
Impact Fund
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/rss/busi
ness/knowledgeexchange/impactfund
Communicating our Impact
• Faculty websites now contain case studies
of the impact of research at the regional,
national and international level e.g:
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/impact/
Impact & Public Engagement
• Impact and Public Engagement Awards
2014
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/insite/news/in
tnews2/research_impact_awards_2014
Impact & Public Engagement
• Regional and Community Engagement
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/community/regio
nalengagement/
• National Policy Engagement
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/community/policy
engagement/
• Public Engagement
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/community/public
engagement/
Research Impact at
Warwick
- Strategy
- Impact Officers
- Funding
- Capturing and
Communicating Impact