AHRC Guidance on Public Policy Engagement

Dr Ian LyneAssociate Director of Research

Overview

• Context – the ‘Impact Agenda’• Planning and Demonstrating

Engagement• AHRC Funding schemes

Excellence with Impact

RCUK describe impact as ….

The demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy by:

– Fostering global economic performance, and specifically the economic competitiveness of the UK

– Increasing the effectiveness of public services and policy– Enhancing quality of life, health and creative output

RCUK Expectations of Researchers

• The Research Councils give their funding recipients

considerable flexibility and autonomy in the delivery of their research, postgraduate training and knowledge transfer activities.

• In return, there are certain expectations – these are set out under RCUK Statement of Expectations for Economic and Societal Impact: www.rcuk.ac.uk/kei/expectation/Pages/home.aspx

Pathways to Impact

• A key component of the RCUK Strategy was the introduction of ‘Pathways to Impact’ statements as part of grant applications.

• Applicants are expected to describe appropriate pathways to impact as part of the application process.

• This is the part of the application where applicants describe who might benefit from their research, how and what they can do to ensure potential beneficiaries have the opportunity to benefit.

• We do not expect applicants to predict the impact of their research.

• The purpose of pathways to impact is to encourage applicants to explore from the outset appropriate avenues for engaging with potential beneficiaries in order maximise the potential benefits of their research.

Pathways to Impact

• Pathways to impact are project specific and should be appropriate for that piece of research.

• A full set of guidance and other helpful resources can be found on the RCUK website including top tips, FAQs and case studies.

• See:http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/kei/impacts/Pages/home.aspx http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/media/brief/impactcase/Pages/home.aspx

Pathways to Impact

Research Outcomes Collection

• If you are successful in your grant application, the Research Councils want to hear about your achievements!

• Research Councils use the information researchers provide to demonstrate the impact of research to both the Government and the public.

• Researchers and/or institutions submit information about AHRC research using an online systems: Research Outcomes System (RoS)

RCUK “Gateway to Research”

• The goal of Gateway to Research is to give the public and business better access to information on research funded by the Research Councils. Particularly information such as:

– who, what and where the Research Councils fund – the outcomes and outputs from Research Councils’ funding, linking to

already available open access repositories and/or data catalogues.

• The final live system will be launched at the end of 2013 but a beta version of the site is now available to use at: http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/

Guidance on Planning and Demonstrating Effective Policy Engagement

“Even where it is not possible to prove a direct policy impact, academics engaged in policy relevant research can plan to engage with policy-makers, practitioners or the public in a systematic and active way.”

Guidance on Planning and Demonstrating Effective Policy Engagement

A simple framework to help with:

1. Planning your engagement with policy bodies or groups

2. Demonstrating the extent of your engagement.

Planning: your Pathways to Impact Demonstrating: via ROS

AHRC Funding to Support Policy Engagement

• Fellowships• Research Grants• Research Networking

– Highlight notice on Public Policy in this scheme.

Research Networking Scheme

Public Policy Highlight Notice

• Provide support for building new partnerships, or strengthening existing networks, between academics and policy makers (including relevant policy bodies) in a sustained way, for example, through a series of events or seminars.

• Raise awareness amongst researchers of the potential public policy impact of their work, and to develop their understanding of current public policy issues which might inform their work.

• Raise awareness amongst policy makers and policy bodies of the contribution that arts and humanities research can make to the development of public policy, including foreign as well as domestic policy.

Research Networking Scheme

Public Policy Highlight Notice

• The Highlight notice runs until 31 December 2013• http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/Funding-Opportunities/Pages/Pu

blic-Policy-Highlight-Notice.aspx

Thank you -

Comments or Questions?