DTC Impact module ‘Impact’: what, where and why DTC Impact module ‘Impact’: what, where and why? Dr Glyn Williams, Urban Studies and Planning (drawing on material produced by Dr Adam Whitworth, Dept of Geography)

‘Impact’: what, where & why? Module overview What is ‘impact’ & why might we care? How does impact shape your PhD? 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

1: Module overview 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Welcome! Aims of this module: To gain understanding of ‘knowledge exchange’ and ‘impact’ agendas within context of higher education To discuss different issues & approaches to achieving impact To learn from case study examples & researcher experiences To discuss aims & strategies to maximise impact of your own research 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Welcome! Questions we will explore include: What is ‘impact’ & what is the ‘impact agenda’ all about? Why might I care about impact in my research? How might I try and improve my research’s ‘impact’? Who are my target partners? How do I go about building effective research collaborations with external partners? Which audience(s) am I trying to reach and affect? What can we learn from sharing experiences? How might I build impact more strongly into my own research? 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Workshop 1 (13/02/17) Workshop 2 (27/02/17) Workshop 3 (13/03/17) Introduction Managing Collaborative Projects Excellence in Impact I: S Farrall Building Successful Research Partnerships The Politics of Engaged Scholarship Excellence in Impact II: H Lamby-Mumford Writing Successful Collaborative Bids Working with the Media Evaluating Impact Approaches to Co-Constructing Knowledge Digital Technologies and Impact Thinking Critically about Impact 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

2: What is ‘impact’ and why might we care? 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Impact is everywhere! 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Impact and KE within University of Sheffield

What is impact? ‘Achieving demonstrable benefits from the wider economy and society’ Excellent, rigorous research is the starting point But impact is about benefits beyond academia Reach Significance Change 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Thinking about ‘impact’ What are different types of ‘impact’ we could think about achieving? Why do universities & academics care about the ‘impact agenda’? What is a ‘good academic’? How (if at all) do impact & KE fit into being a ‘good academic’? Break into groups of 2-4 and spend 5 minutes discussing these questions. Please nominate a rapporteur to feed back. 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

What makes a ‘good academic’ in your opinion? Inspirational lecturer Networks & partnerships Gives students time Articles in top ranking journals Grant income capture Reliable in administrative roles External public profile Good colleague Improving wider world Other 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Why the impact agenda? Evidence needed to justify public taxpayer investments in research (Treasury & BIS) Changes in emphases within funding & evaluation of HE HEFCE & funding councils driven by Treasury emphasis on economic (and policy, social, cultural etc) value for money for taxpayer Two stages: Treasury think UK far better at research than ‘pull through’ Ground-breaking research of the highest quality That achieves demonstrable benefits to wider economy and society 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

‘Impact’ & peer review journal articles Top 50 most web viewed articles during 2012 in a well respected social policy journal 1 1509 5 566 10 461 15 346 20 309 25 287 30 253 35 239 40 230 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

The many faces of the impact agenda ‘Impact’ in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) Reputation (eg 4*) and income 20% weighting for impact case studies Impact & engagement in research council funding (e.g. ESRC, AHRC, NERC) Pathways to Impact statement (i) Academic impact (ii) broader econ & social impact End of Award Impact statement Separate KE funding calls Funding increasingly partnership oriented Funding increasingly competitive! Collaborative PhDs becoming the norm Employment/Promotion criteria Profile, networks, partners, grant income, consultancy, all supporting media, ‘expert’, policy > UG & PGT recruitment, > academic personal/dept/univ profile career

The many faces of the impact agenda ‘Impact’ in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) Reputation (eg 4*) and income 20% weighting for impact case studies Impact & engagement in research council funding (e.g. ESRC, AHRC, NERC) Pathways to Impact statement (i) Academic impact (ii) broader econ & social impact End of Award Impact statement Separate KE funding calls Funding increasingly partnership oriented Funding increasingly competitive! Collaborative PhDs becoming the ‘norm’ Employment/Promotion criteria Profile, networks, partners, grant income, consultancy, all supporting media, ‘expert’, policy > UG & PGT recruitment, > academic personal/dept/univ profile career The concept & measurement of impact in HE are problematic & contested

‘Impact’: narrow & broad understandings Intrinsic impact Broader career & university benefits Research council funding REF 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

3: How does impact shape your PhD? 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

How ‘impactful’ is your research? We would expect variation according to: Nature of topic External collaboration Methodological approach? Your aims & future career plans Personality Technical skills (eg IT, public speaking, media work) 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Key external organisations How ‘impactful’ is your research? Policy Media Economic Social/Cultural Zero impact Mega impact Key external organisations Participants Academic networks Academic profile General public 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

How ‘impactful’ is your research? Policy Media Economic Social/Cultural General public Zero impact Mega impact Key external organisations Identify where you think you are/will be at for each type of impact Then identify where you would like to be (using different colour or shape) Participants Academic networks Academic profile 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Co-production, KE & impact in research: potential benefits? Maximising impact of findings Maximising reach of findings Asking (all) the right questions? Improving chances of securing funding/grant income Access to data etc from key partners Raising personal profile Building partnerships & networks Strengthening case for promotion UG recruitment (think Brian Cox) Capacity building in partners Democratization of the research process…. 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

‘Traditional’ PhD model Identify research questions Year 1 Formulate research design Data collection Year 2 Analysis Write up Year 3+ Dissemination (PhD, conferences, publications) 18/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Possible model for engaged, ‘impactful’ PhD Identify key partners Collaboratively identify research needs & questions Year 0-1 Co-produce research design Co-formulate research funding application(s) Further develop relationships, profile, expertise, outputs, ‘ academic territory’ Data collection (collaboratively?) Year 2 Analysis (collaboratively?) Write up (just you for the PhD!) Year 3+ Identify additional target audiences/organisations Dissemination (PhD, conferences, publications, briefings, workshops, media, Twitter, blogs, video...)

Possible model for engaged, ‘impactful’ PhD Identify key partners Collaboratively identify research needs & questions Year 0-1 Co-produce research design Co-formulate research funding application(s) Further develop relationships, profile, expertise, outputs, ‘ academic territory’ Data collection (collaboratively?) Year 2 Analysis (collaboratively?) Write up (just you for the PhD!) Year 3+ Identify additional target audiences/organisations This needs careful thought as the PhD has to be your work Dissemination (PhD, conferences, publications, briefings, workshops, media, Twitter, blogs, video...)