Presentation template

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Assessing Excellence with Impact Ian Diamond ESRC
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A Healthy Vibrant Research Base

• An excellent research capability for the longer
  term
• Delivery of both academic and non-academic impact
  
• Underpinning the development of UK society,
  culture and economy (and beyond)

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A Belief in Excellence

• Research methods
• rigorous and repeatable
• conducted to highest methodological standards
• Intellectually and technically challenging
• Shapes the research work of others
• Changes our understanding of the world we live in
• Assessed by peer review

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Great research

• Mixed Portfolio of Response and Managed Mode
• A firm commitment to blue sky curiosity driven
  research
• Scientific Excellence the sine qua non
• Encourage interdisciplinarity and innovation
• Work to assure peer review
• A partnership with the academic community
• Broad portfolio of opportunities to maximise
  impact with opportunities throughout the research
  lifecourse
• New application processes

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Public Expectations

• Increased investment in research
• Increased expectations of further enhancing
  benefits from research
• Increased obligation to demonstrate a greater
  impact from research

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Research Councils UK Impact

• To advance knowledge, understanding and
  technology, and provide trained researchers
• To build partnerships that enhance take-up and
  impact, thereby contributing to the
• economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom,
• effectiveness of public services and policy, and
• enhancement of the quality of life and creative
  output of the nation.
• derived from the Royal Charters of the Research
  Councils

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What do we Know About Impact?

• UK research makes a huge contribution to society
  and the economy both UK and global impacts
• For the Research Councils we find
• Diversity of impacts across portfolio
• Multiplicity of processes to achieve impact
• Both expected impacts and serendipity
• Impacts manifest at many scales project,
  person, organisation etc
• Time lags and multiplier effects
• Researchers and research are enriched by impact
• However, scope to articulate both potential
  impact and achievement more strongly

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Maximising Impact

• Factors (sometimes) influencing the likelihood
  and speed of impact (but sometimes it takes
  time)
• Right project at right time
• Entrepreneurial approach within, beyond and
  after projects
• Involvement of third parties, particularly as
  collaborating users

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Impact Examples (from REF Consultation)

• Social
• Public Policy and Services
• Health
• Environmental
• Cultural
• QoL
• Economic

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Peer Review Operational Changes

• Applicants to explain
• Academic Summary how will this research
  contribute to knowledge?
• Impact Summary Who will benefit from this
  research? How?
• Impact Planning What you will do to ensure
  benefit?
• Review and assessment
• Peer reviewers to consider potential impact
  (where appropriate) when prioritising excellent
  research
• Diversity of assessment criteria across
  portfolio not one size for all
• We will continue to support excellent research
  without obvious and immediate impact, within a
  balanced portfolio
• No dramatic shift in the balance of y/our
  research portfolio
• Better application of research, not more applied
  research
• Impact will be part of the currency and language
  of research
• Greater visibility of impacts and greater pride
  in achievement
• Key purpose of impact plans is to help with peer
  review assessment
• but also offers opportunities to help us support
  and evaluate key
• investments.

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Recent Developments

• RCUK Expectations for Societal and Economic
  Impact
• KT Portal
• www.rcuk.ac.uk/innovation/ktportal
• Impact summaries within peer review
• Clarity about our expectations
• Stronger obligation to consider beneficiaries -
  and how benefits could become manifest
• No compromise on excellence
• Accept need for diversity between Councils,
  disciplines, activities
• Not economic valuation of potential impact

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RCUK Statement of Expectations

• Research Councils give researchers considerable
  flexibility and autonomy, but in return expect
• awareness of the environment and context in which
  their research takes place
• awareness of social/ethical implications and
  public attitudes
• engagement with the public about research and its
  broader implications
• identify potential benefits and beneficiaries
  through the full project life cycle
• maintain professional networks that extend beyond
  their own discipline
• publish results widely both academic, user and
  public audiences
• exploit results to secure social and economic
  return to the UK
• manage collaboration professionally
• staff and students develop skills matched to the
  demands of their future career paths
• curation, management and exploitation of data for
  future use
• work in partnership with RCUK

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Fundamental Messages

• No compromise on quality
• A partnership with researchers and HEIs
• Recognition of Non-academic Impact (including
  public engagement) in career structures
• Delivering the dual hurdle of excellence with
  impact