2. The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Dr Chris Williams Faculty Research Impact Officer Postgraduate Research Induction

3. Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
What is ‘Impact’ and why does it matter to me?
Employment and promotion
Applying for Funding
REF – What actually is it?
Questions that never go away
Impact vs Knowledge Exchange vs Public Engagement?
Is dissemination impact?
How do you measure impact?
Why should I care?

4. Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Impact – What is it?
Given the definitions, the key to thinking about impact then is:
What has changed as a result of your research?
To understand your impact you need to have a clear picture of the following:
Who has benefitted from the impact of your research?
What were the benefits, when did they take place and what is the link to your research?
And to maximise the return on this impact you need to document, gather evidence and be able to present a compelling narrative in relation to this activity

5. Impact – what do indicators look like?
Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Impact – what do indicators look like?
The following are selective examples of types of impact / indicators .
Examples of evidence
Indicators of impact
Economic impacts
Business performance measures, for example, sales, turnover, profits or employment associated with new or improved products, processes or services.
Licences awarded and brought to market.
Investment funding raised from UK and/or non-UK agencies) for start-up businesses and new activities of existing businesses.
Impacts on public policy and services
Documented evidence of policy debate (for example, in Parliament, the media, material produced by NGOs).
Documented evidence of changes to public policy/legislation/regulations/guidelines.
Measures of improved public services,
Impacts on society, culture and creativity
Critical reviews in the media and/or other professional publications.
Evidence of public debate in the media or other fora.
Evidence of sustained and ongoing engagement with a group.

6. Impact – what do indicators look like?
Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Impact – what do indicators look like?
The following are selective examples of types of impact / indicators .
Examples of evidence
Indicators of impact
Health impacts
Measures of improved patient outcomes, public health or health services.
Documented changes to clinical guidelines.
Evidence of take-up and use of new or improved products and processes
Impacts on practitioners and professional services
Traceable reference to inclusion of research in national or international industry standards or authoritative guidance.
New or modified professional standards and codes of practice.
Documented changes in knowledge, capability or behaviours of individuals benefiting from training.
Impacts on the environment
Traceable impacts on particular projects or processes which bring environmental benefits.
Evidence of generic environmental impact across a sector, confirmed by independent authoritative evidence.
Traceable reference to inclusion of research into government policy papers, legislation and industry guidance.

7. Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

8. Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

9. Faculty PROFileGroup ‘Making an Impact’ Series
Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Faculty PROFileGroup ‘Making an Impact’ Series
Invited external speakers
Academic case studies and viewpoints
Professional services support inc central services
Q and A panels
Presentations and video uploaded to intranet
PGRs very welcome to attend
Next event is this Wed 8th November on ‘Influencing Teachers and Schools’

10. Who’s who: Teams to Help with impact
Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Faculty/School/ Dept Positions
School Research and Finance Teams/ Events and Marketing Teams
First/ main point of contact for all matters relating to research support, funding and REF procedures.
Faculty Impact Officer
One to one advice on REF and non-REF impact for staff and PGRs. Links to other Faculty support and research.
Dr Chris Williams
Support Contacts
Professional Services Support
Business Gateway
Part of Partnerships and innovation who also deal with intellectual property, consultancy and knowledge transfer.
Business Gateway are the link to external partners for the University. They can offer support in developing partnerships, research collaborations, KE activities with non-HEI organisations, the KE voucher scheme, IP and licensing, and consultancy.
Belinda Tyrrell (Business Gateway)
Bob Cooney (Research Policy)
Matt Hurst (Press Office)
Research Policy
Research Policy act as the coordinating and project management office for REF,
Advice and guidance on:
 Institutional approach and support for impact
Evidence – capturing and storing
Press Office
Part of Marketing and Communications, who also deal with corporate communications, logo use, design, brand identity and digital communications (including web policy).
Can be contacted to assist with the writing and promotion of news, research and opinion stories for the press, social media advice, press contacts, dealing with the media advice and training, ask the expert.

11. ANY QUESTIONS?