RCUK :
PATHWAYS TO IMPACT
WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT
TO DO NOW
Professor John Marshall
Director
Academic Research Development
CREDO workshop May 2011
page 1
Research Impact: What it can mean
1.
UK Research Councils: RCUK “Pathways to Impact”
2.
UK Research Councils: “Outputs and Outcomes Collection”
3.
UK Research Excellence Framework: “Impact Assessment”
4.
Academic Journal Impact Factors
5.
Academic Research Publication Citations
6.
Scottish Government /SFC Knowledge Exchange
7.
GCU Research Impact
This presentation will focus primarily on
Pathways to Impact
page 2
All truths are easy to understand once they
are discovered; the point is to discover
them.
Galileo Galilei
The hardest thing in the world to
understand is the income tax.
Albert Einstein
page 3
Part 1:
Research Councils UK (RCUK): What is Research Impact?
RCUK is committed to research excellence with impact
This means continuing to invest in the best research, people and infrastructure,
whilst aiming to enhance the impact of that funding on society
RCUK recognise that the research that is funded has academic and
economic and societal impacts
The potential to maximise both of these is now assessed in research grant
applications within the peer review process.
page 4
UK Research Councils: “Pathways to Impact”
Applicants are now required to explore the ways to enhance
the potential impact of funded research
For GCU, this is relevant to staff making research grant
applications to
AHRC, BBSRC EPSRC, ESRC, MRC and NERC
Impact related information must now be supplied in the
relevant sections of the electronic form as part of the Joint
Electronic Submission (JeS) grant application process as
follows.
Academic impact: via Academic beneficiaries and case for
support sections
Economic/Societal impact: via Impact summary and
Pathways to Impact sections
page 5
RCUK Research Grant Applications: Impact
Academic Beneficiaries
Should cover potential academic impact and pathways to realising it (e.g. effects
of possible research outcomes on other academic disciplines)
Impact Summary
Should cover potential economic and societal impact
and seek to answer two questions:
•Who might benefit from this research?
•How might they benefit from this research?
Pathways to Impact
Should detail the activities which will help develop
potential economic and societal impact, answering the question:
•What will be done to ensure that potential beneficiaries have the
•opportunity to benefit from this research?
Activities outlined in Pathways to Impact should be:
appropriate and specific
page 6
What is economical and societal impact?
RCUK definition:
It is the demonstrable contribution that excellent research
makes to society and the economy by:
• Fostering global economic performance and
specifically the economic competitiveness of the UK
• Increasing the effectiveness of public services and
policy
• Enhancing the quality of life, health and creative
output
page 7
Why is RCUK asking researchers to explore
Pathways to Impact ?
Asking applicants to consider activities to enhance economic and
societal impact is not new
RCUK knows that the research funded has a huge impact on the
wellbeing and economy of the UK
Recent changes help emphasise the importance RCUK places on this
and ensure that potential impacts are demonstrated and supported
It also ensures a common format for capturing and assessing this
information across different research councils
page 8
page 9
RCUK: Economic and Societal Impact of Research
The Pathways to Impact submission in grant applications will be assessed by
peer review and could affect the decision about whether or not to fund a
project
The primary criterion for RCUK is still to fund excellent research.
However this section will be particularly important in affecting decisions for
example:
•
At the borderline
•
Where there is a clear need for user engagement
It is expected that having reviewed the guidance, applicants will be able to
explore Pathways to Impact for their research.
The maximum length is two pages but it is not expected that all applications
will require this level of detail
page 10
RCUK: Economic and Societal Impact of Research
If you feel that this approach is not applicable for your research (i.e. that it
may have no economic/societal impact) then you must still use the Pathway
to Impact to explain your reasoning. This will be reviewed with the rest of
your proposal.
What if my research is assessed as excellent but my Pathways to Impact are
deemed not suitable?
• RCUK reserve the right to withhold the award of grant until
Pathways to Impact are of a standard appropriate for the project
What if my Pathways to Impact are assessed as excellent but my research is
not?
• Excellent research remains the primary criterion so you
will not be funded.
page 11
RCUK Pathways to Impact:
Available resources and guidance
RCUK Pathways to Impact website
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/kei/impacts/Pages/home.aspx
Contents :
Frequently asked questions (pdf)
Top 10 tips for completing the Pathways to Impact (html)
Guidance for completing Pathways to Impact
RCUK Expectations on economic and societal impact (pdf)
RCUK typology of research impacts (pdf)
Public engagement with research (html)
page 12
Further specific guidance, resources and help
on research impact available from:
AHRC: www.ahrc.ac.uk/FundedResearch/Pages/ImpactAssessment.aspx
BBSRC: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/apply/impact/funding-impact-index.aspx
EPSRC: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/apprev/preparing/Pages/economicimpact.aspx
ESRC: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/guidance/applicants/iii.aspx
NERC: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/application/pathwaystoimpact.asp
MRC: http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Fundingopportunities/Applicanthandbook/transfertoJeS/index.htm
STFC: www.stfc.ac.uk/About/Stats/EI/EIinPRFAQ.aspx
RCUK Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S): Case for Support and Attachments
Impact Requirements
https://je-s.rcuk.ac.uk/jesHandbook/jesHelp.aspx?m=s&s=1202
page 13
Any questions on the presentation?
An electronic copy will be circulated to those attending and
will be available from the University research webpage in the
CREDO staff development section
http://www.gcu.ac.uk/research/researchatglasgowcaledonianuniversity/credo/
page 14
Part 2:
Workshop session :
Examples of Impact Statements
to review in groups (see handout)
(No discipline specific knowledge
required)
page 15
Research
Impacts
page 16