Making engaged research matter for REF (and beyond!) Dr. Gavin - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Making engaged research matter for REF (and beyond!)

• Dr. Gavin McNee

Research Planning Officer for Engineering & Physical Sciences g.mcnee@bham.ac.uk

What is the REF?

Expert review process that assesses the quality of research in UK higher education institutions over a period of c. 7 years It produces quality profiles rating research and aids HEFCE’s fund allocation to the institutions they fund. Outcomes provide benchmarking information and establish reputational yardsticks.

60% 25% 15%

The Assessment Framework

The Assessment Framework

60% 25% 15%

Impact of Research – Judged by the ‘reach and significance’ of impacts on the economy, society and/or culture that were underpinned by excellent research.

Multiple evolving definitions but most common: “an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia” (HEFCE - Research Excellence Framework) Impact Case Studies http://impact.ref.ac.uk/CaseStudies/search1.aspx

What impact means

Multiple evolving definitions but most common: “an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia” (HEFCE - Research Excellence Framework)

Impact is NOT:

about audience figures or visitor numbers alone

Impact IS:

about the effect that all of this interaction and engagement actually has on society, the economy and /or public policy about evidencing change

What impact means

Provable, real-world benefit, based on research

Types of Impact

Influence on professional development Improved outcomes for patients Reduction in production costs Provision of jobs Reduction in use of harmful substance Implementation / informing of a policy New technology developed IP property gained, New business has been created Empowering marginalised groups A exhibition that changes understanding

• f the field

COMMERCIAL

Public Engagement with Research

• Thinking solely in terms of ‘general public’ is

not always helpful

• Meaningful engagement focuses on the specific

publics relevant to your research Clearly articulate who your ‘publics’ are

• Maximum value comes from engaging

audiences in dialogue, a two-way exchange about research, which affects the thinking of both parties.

• A convincing account of the difference it has

helped to generate, and credible claims for the contribution made by the research to that impact

Public Engagement with Research

Public Engagement with Research

• Link it to your research! In REF 2014, PE had to be

underpinned at least in part by the specifics of the research, ensuring the activity draws materially and distinctly from it.

• Meaningful engagement can improve the visibility,

social relevance and quality of research

Impact Case Studies

• Must be underpinned by 2* research published at UoB since 2000

Source: www.ref.ac.uk

• Impact must have occurred in the REF period (Aug. 2013 –Sept. 2020)

Source: www.ref.ac.uk

Impact Case Studies

More information

Reviewing public engagement in REF 2014 University of Bristol report analysing REF Public engagement impact case studies. https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/sites/default/files/publication/revi ewing_pe_in_ref_2014_final.pdf The role of public engagement in the REF NCCPE comprehensive review of how public engagement featured in REF 2014. https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news/role-public-engagement-ref REF21 website Database of impact case studies examples www.ref.ac.uk

Impact Case Studies

What kind of public engagement do you think they might be able to undertake and what sort of impact might they hope to achieve? How might they evaluate this impact? Use the table as a guide to design how you’d evaluate PE activity to measure impact

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtR9MK4ad1k Professor Mark Reed - Video

The Assessment Framework

Medicine/ Health