Impact Workshop (1): Impact as an Assessment Element in the UK Research Excellence Framework 2014

Abstract:

This workshop will explore how "impact" outside universities is being measured in the United Kingdom for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014. Impact is a new addition to the assessment exercise (formerly known as the RAE) and academics and support staff are in the final stages of preparing submissions for the REF. It accounts for 20% of the total assessment and has been a challenge to all those working in higher education. The workshop will explain how "impact" has been defined for the purposes of REF, how individual case studies and statements about impact have been put together, and include an example of each of these from the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science at the University of Leeds. The case study was designed around the theme of patenting and intellectual property, while the statement highlights how the School is approaching its impact-related activities on a broader scale.

Background on the Workshops:

Impact is a key element of the University's knowledge exchange (KE) strategy. Since 2012/13, the University Grants Committee (UGC) requires each UGC-funded institution to submit up to 5 impact case studies that are underpinned by excellent research as part of the knowledge transfer/KE annual report each year. The prescribed format follows the impact case study template of the UK's Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014.

It is also important to note that in the Panel-Specific Assessment Criteria for the UGC RAE 2014, all the Panels included under the "Esteem" measure some elements relating to KE/technology transfer. This suggests that the next Hong Kong RAE will likely require evidence of impact and the UK experience indicates that now is the time to start collecting evidence of such impacts.

The Knowledge Exchange Office is organising workshops to be conducted by researchers from the University of Leeds who have hands-on experience in preparing impact statements and impact case studies for the UK's Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014.

The workshops will be of interest not only to colleagues who want to maximise the impact of their research, but also to those who co-ordinate research developments and research assessment in Faculties as well as those who might be interested in being nominated for Faculty KE Awards because impact is a selection criterion.