Humanities research and the impact on public policy

Dr Sumi David, AHRC

‘Impact and the Humanities’ Workshop Belfast, 8th June 2015

REF2014 and impact

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HEFCE searchable impact database (http://impact.ref.ac.uk/CaseStudies/) and preliminary analysis (6679 case studies)

REF2014 and impact

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Main Panel 4* 3* 2* 1* Unclassified % of 4*+ 3*

Main Panel A 60.9 30.2 7.4 0.8 0.7 91.1%

Main Panel C 39.1 40.4 16.4 3.5 0.6 79.5%

Main Panel B 37.8 45.7 13.3 2.3 0.9 83.5%

Main Panel D 36.7 44.4 15.1 3.1 0.7 81.1%

REF2014 Impact score

Overall quality profiles

4* 3* 2* 1* Unclassified % of 4*+ 3*

Main Panel A 37 44 17 1 1 81%Main Panel D 30 41 24 4 1 71%Main Panel B 26 57 15 2 0 83%Main Panel C 27 42 26 4 1 71%

REF2014 and policy-related impact

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Total number of

case studies

INFORMING GOVERNMENT

POLICYPARLIAMENTARY

SCRUTINYCOMMUNITY AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Total (all main panels)

6679 1233; 18.4% 983; 14.7% 571; 8.5%

Panel D 1627 (24.3%) 81; 6.6% 151; 15.4% 185; 32.4%

Panel D & (5 UoAs) 2467 (36.9%) 360; 29.2% 436; 44.4% 299; 52.4%

Panel D & C 3600 (53.9%) 752; 61% 814; 82.8% 468; 82%

REF2014 and impact case studies underpinned by AHRC-funding

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Initial analysis of approx. 2220 impact case studies in submitted to Panel D and to Law; Architecture, Built Environment and Planning; Geography, Environment Studies and Archaeology – approx. 30% referenced funding from the AHRC.

• Shaping and informing governmental policies or the delivery of policies;

• Evaluating/developing existing and new legislation;

• informing government departments and policymakers;

• Shaping informing local authority policies;

• Shaping and informing transnational policies and organisations;

• Informing/supporting NGOs to influence policy

RCUK Definition of Impact

The demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to academic advances, across and within disciplines, including significant advances in understanding, methods, theory and application..andthe demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy…Impact embraces all the extremely diverse ways in which research-related knowledge and skills benefit individuals, organisations and nations

by contributing to: a productive economy, a healthy society and a sustainable world

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AHRC supporting public policy engagement

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SchemesResponsive Mode

Research Grants (Early Career Route and Standard Route) Leadership Fellows (Early Career Route and Standard

Route) Networking awards (2013 – highlight notice to encourage

engagement with policy makers) Follow-on-Fund for Impact and Engagement

Strategic themes

(and various cross-Council programmes)

Care for the Future

Digital Transformations

Science in Culture

Translating Cultures

AHRC supporting public policy engagement

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Public Policy Advisory GroupIncludes senior academics e.g. Professor Bernard Silverman, CSA – Home Office, Professor David Archard, QUB

Training opportunities Engaging with Government course (IfG – for ECRs) ; Policy Internships; and Policy Impact Skills for PhD students (pilot for DTPs and CDTs)

Highlighting the contribution of the arts and humanities to public policy; Pilot schemes and ad-hoc programmes

• Roadshows (e.g. QUB, January 2015) • Reports and studies ‘What is the Value of History in

Policymaking’• Human Rights Timeline• Lessons Learned• History of Whitehall• Policy Fellows

Pathways to impact

Implemented in 2009 the purpose of Pathways to Impact is:

to encourage applicants to explore, from the outset, who could potentially benefit from their work in the longer term and consider what could be done to increase the chances of

their research reaching beneficiaries.

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http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/ke/impacts/

Guidance on Planning and DemonstratingEffective Policy Engagement

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“Even where it is not possibleto 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”

a simple framework to help with…

1. Planning your engagement with policy bodies or groups

2. Demonstrating the extent of your engagement

Planning……………..……...Demonstrating……………..

Directly:• Consultations• Formulation of new policy, and• Guidelines for those delivering itIndirectly: • Evaluation of existing policy/legislation• Historical perspectives on current policy/debates• Principles & premises that underpin policy

The Arts and Humanities contribution to help shape policy

Capturing/disseminating evidence of impact

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Gateway to Research helps highlight research expertise and findings from across the seven Research Councils &

Innovate UK (Technology Strategy Board) easily accessible to other

organisations such as higher education institutes, charities, government,

business, and other members of the public.

Researchfish is an online facility that enables research funders and Research Organisations to track the impacts of their investments, and researchers to log the outputs, outcomes and impacts of their work.

Used now by all seven UK Research Councils

Evidence of (public policy) impact

• Case studies v. metrics – the narrative• The researcher v. the research

Evidence to collect?• Published Reports, reviews, web links etc.,• Confidential reports or details• Details of individuals who will corroborate involvement/impact• Written statements to provide corroboration

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