Impact Workshop (3): Models of Impact: Case Studies from the School of History, University of Leeds

Abstract:

In this workshop, Dr Laura King, School of History, University of Leeds, will explore approaches to impact in the UK. In particular, she will focus on a case study submitted by the School of History as part of the recent UK Research Excellence Framework (REF). The project, led by Professor Will Gould, is entitled 'Empowering Indian citizens to use the Right to Information through a “Public Information Centre”'. It focuses on Professor Gould's research into corruption in India, conducted between 2005 and 2010, and involved collaboration between Gould and Asha Parivar, a Right to Information (RTI) NGO in Lucknow, India. Interaction during research for this book and the specific research within it led to the development of an electronic Public Information Centre between 2010 and 2012, allowing communities in Uttar Pradesh, India, to access information on government projects. Centres/booths are run in five locations and assist in the filing of RTI applications. Dr King will introduce the case study, and focus particularly on how this project was documented in the recent REF exercise. This will be contextualised within other case studies submitted, the wider impact environment at Leeds, and the School of History's on-going approach to impact. The final part of this workshop will focus on the School's recently drafted Impact Strategy, and highlight lessons learnt from past projects.

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.