From Research to Academic Impact: Building Pathways to Academic Impact

Overview

Academic impact is about more than demonstrating the value of research after the event. This bespoke course is designed collaboratively around the challenges researchers and research organisations are facing in translating their work into meaningful impact. Clients bring the questions, barriers and opportunities they want to work through, and the course team draws on research, practical experience and a wider network of impact practitioners and knowledge brokers to explore solutions.

Drawing on Professor Claire Dunlop’s experience as a two-time Research Excellence Framework (REF) panel member in the UK and Slovakia, impact adviser to universities in Hong Kong, and lead author of impact case studies, alongside the experience of other impact practitioners and knowledge brokers, the course provides practical guidance on developing impact pathways and translating research beyond academia. Participants will explore how to build an impact dimension into their work, develop networks and relationships, translate research for different audiences, and capture and communicate the difference their research is making.

Who is this for?

Typical participants may include:

• Early career researchers and academics seeking to develop the impact potential of their research
• Researchers preparing for REF and other research assessment and impact exercises
• Academic leaders, research managers and impact professionals supporting researchers to develop and evidence impact

What will I learn?

You will:

• Develop a clear understanding of what ‘impact’ means and how it differs from engagement, dissemination and knowledge exchange
• Identify opportunities to build an impact dimension into research from the outset and develop credible impact pathways
• Explore approaches to translating research for different audiences and contexts beyond academia
• Build and manage relationships and networks that can support meaningful research impact
• Learn how to capture, evidence and communicate the effects and reach of your research, including through impact case studies
• Develop practical approaches for turning research into impact, supported by available institutional and translational funding opportunities

Course leads