Research Impact & Engagement
Research Impact and Engagement
Dissemination and Public Engagement
Purpose:
- Help researchers and the institution to engage effectively with audiences throughout the cycle of their research in accordance with funder and institutional guidelines
- Keep accurate records of all research outputs to enable monitoring of institutional impact and performance
Activity:
- Understand funders’ terms and conditions with respect to dissemination of research outputs (including IP) and public engagement
- Help researchers to actively share their research and its broader impact with the public
- Support researchers in demonstrating in the social and ethical implications of their research
- Keep abreast of new approaches to dissemination and engagement
- Advise researchers on the range of dissemination and engagement channels for academic, user and public audiences, including Open Access
- Keep researchers informed of institutional and funder policies (Copyright, Intellectual Property (IP), Open Access (OA))
- Make researchers aware of publishers’ copyright policies, and data curation requirements
- Ensure that all research outputs are recorded in institutional systems
- Produce reports and case study materials on research outputs for internal/external use, including Research Excellence Framework (REF)
- Deliver training on sustainable research, impact and engagement
Core Skills
- Systems and specialist software
- Information search – keeping `up to date’
- Analytical and problem solving– understanding/ applying funder’s guidance; applying judgement in decision making
- Communication and interpersonal skills– preparing reports and case studies, briefing and advising
- Collaboration and co-creation -working across disciplines and teams
- Marketing and stakeholder/customer engagement
Underpinning Knowledge
- Funders’ terms and conditions
- Institutional policies – IP, Copyright
- Institutional systems
- Open access, Data curation
- Risk management and compliance
- IP including copyright
- REF requirements
- Regional research environment
Examples of behaviour:
- Embrace new technologies, systems and working methods
- Adapt approach to creatively and effectively respond to changes outside of the organisation
- Share materials and information in impactful and engaging ways, aligned with a positive research culture
- Contribute to cross-team collaborative projects
Purpose:
- Maintain an overview of research outputs and monitor institutional impact and performance
- Ensure that researchers have access to all of the information necessary for disseminating their research outputs and engage with the public, to best effect
- Monitor and report researchers’ compliance with institutional and funder requirements
- Disseminate relevant changes to institutional or external stakeholder policies to researchers and research office staff members
Activity:
- Promote and facilitate effective communication with key external and internal stakeholders
- Ensure that researchers comply with funders’ terms and conditions, and with institutional requirements, with respect to dissemination/Open Access/public engagement
- Ensure the accessibility and reusability of data, to enable broader societal application
- Promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across disciplines
- Report institutional impact of research outputs to the senior management team
- Develop and deliver training on impact, sustainable research and public engagement
- Mentor and advise researchers on dissemination/public engagement
- Promote, and maximise use of budgets provided for research outputs dissemination and public engagement
Core Skills
- Influencing – negotiation; ensuring compliance
- Clear Communication – written and spoken
- Financial and budget management
- Networking and interpersonal skills– building relationships, collaboration and co-creation
- Analytical and problem solving – comparing results, league tables
- Training and development – facilitation, coaching and mentoring, course design
Underpinning Knowledge
- Market and key stakeholders
- Funders’ terms and conditions
- Institutional policies and systems
- Open access and Data curation
- Legal, fiscal and regulatory compliance
- Intellectual Property (IP) including Copyright
- Social and ethical implications of research
- Risk management and compliance
- Financial and budget management
Examples of behaviour:
- Monitor and review the effectiveness of working relationships
- Use understanding of other people’s perspectives to help reach agreement
- Coach and mentor others
- Draw on others’ knowledge, skills and experience, to create effective solutions
- Review and update researcher training programmes, to ensure they are current and impactful
- Facilitate conditions that encourage collaboration between researchers / academics and other stakeholders, including clients, external groups and RMAs
Purpose:
- Contribute to the national agenda on dissemination and public engagement
- Ensure that the institution is well-placed to disseminate its research outputs and engage with the public, to best effect
- Ensure that the impact of dissemination is maximised, e.g. reinforcing dissemination with complementary KE/KT/ TT activity
Activity:
- Contribute to national policy consultations, e.g. dissemination/Open Access/public engagement
- Actively champion dissemination and public engagement initiatives within the institution
- Develop and maintain an Open Access policy for the institution
- Develop and maintain an Open Access publication charge policy, if applicable
- Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to develop effective strategies for promoting research outputs
- Select and develop institutional systems for effective sharing of research outputs and maximising impact
- Identify and meet researcher training needs in relation to dissemination and public engagement
- Actively share good practice, internally and externally
Core Skills
- Effective Communication – writing and promoting policy
- Influencing and negotiation –`champion’, help drive the national agenda, contribute to policy
- Agility and resilience
- Systems thinking – developing effective policies
Underpinning Knowledge
- Higher Education and research environment (regional, national, international)
- Market and stakeholder needs
- Legal, fiscal and regulatory compliance
- Open Access
- Institutional systems
- REF
Examples of behaviour:
- Create and articulate a vision for own area of responsibility
- Create momentum and enthusiasm about what needs to be done
- Spot an opportunity for co-creation of research outputs that support financial sustainability
- View change as an opportunity for improvement and innovation
- Adapt approach to respond to changes outside of the organisation
Knowledge Exchange and Business Development
Purpose:
- Support researchers in developing effective KE/KT initiatives and activities in their field
- Stimulate and facilitate relationships between academic/research staff and external partners to reach mutually beneficial agreements on KE/KT
- Maintain relationships with partners and customers with a view to further collaboration and repeat business
Activity:
- Work with researchers to develop KE/KT and translational research proposals and activities
- Represent the institution at external KE/ KT events
- Contribute to co-creation and co-production of research outputs
- Contribute to generating growth and increasing financial sustainability
- Support researchers in commercialisation and licensing of research outputs
- Develop effective relationships with potential partners
- Broker relationships between academics and external partners
- Identify and address common challenges and needs shared by customers and partners
- Manage and monitoring projects to successful outcomes
- Construct business plans and cases for support and investment
- Deliver training and organise KE/ KT events
- Seek and engage capable and effective management for spin-out companies
- Raise capital for spin-out companies e.g. Venture Capital, translational and development funding
Core Skills
- Critical analysis and due diligence – thoroughly research and investigate information before making a decision. Identify and match opportunities to KE/KT priorities. Identify the need for proof of concept (PoC)/development
- Problem Solving – finding creative solutions
- Communication–proposal and contract development; presentations
- Networking – internal and external customer and stakeholder engagement
- Negotiation – contracts, solutions, structuring deals, company structures, equity transactions
- Numeracy – costing and pricing, company finances, business plans, complex license stacking, share dilution etc.
Underpinning Knowledge
- Institutional strategy
- Institutional and partners’ remits
- Market and stakeholder needs
- IP advice
- Risk management and compliance
- Contracts, (e.g. due diligence), legal and tax issues (e.g. sub-contracting, licensing etc.)
- Commercial developments in relevant field
- Policy environment
- Use of CRM systems
- Regional research environment
Examples of behaviour:
- Listen, question and clarify in order to understand your customers’ needs
- Identify and pursue opportunities to work in partnership with external organisations to generate and develop ideas
- Influence outcomes when bidding or negotiating for resources
- Consider cost benefit analysis implications of decisions
- Liaise with external bodies, suppliers and other HE bodies to co-create outputs and generate growth
- Conduct market research
- Provide contract and IP advice to help commercialise research outputs
Purpose:
- Develop achievable, measurable and realistic operational plans and procedures for implementing the institutional KE/KT policy and strategy
- Develop plans and procedures to maximise the impact of research and its outputs
- Ensure that the institution adheres to legal and regulatory requirements in relation to its research and knowledge exchange, e.g. clearly delineating research and consultancy activity
- Maintain own knowledge of institutional research to underpin successful promotion of business development opportunities
Activity:
- Facilitate, enable, and seek opportunities for co-creation and co-production of high-impact research outputs
- Identify and enable KE/KT/TT activity that generates growth (spin outs)
- Encourage Understand and implement institutional KE/KT Strategy
- Manage the KE/KT function, ensuring quality of interactions with partners/customers
- Account manage key clients (e.g. partners/customers)
- Strengthen the relationship between KE/KT and other professional services functions in the institution
- Enable policies and processes for commercialisation and licensing of research outputs
- Develop institutional and faculty procedures to support business development for KE/KT (e.g. Finance, legal, insurance)
- Implement and develop CRM approaches
- Develop a repository of training and reference materials
Core Skills
- Problem Solving – develop creative solutions to problems, and relevant procedures
- Influencing and negotiation- persuasive writing and presentation
- Communication and networking– writing reports, plans and delivering presentations. Sharing best practice
- People and Project Management – including matrix management; risk and budget management
- Analytical – process design and delivery, designing measurement systems
- Training and Development – including coaching and mentoring of colleagues from across research, academic and professional services
Underpinning Knowledge
- Institutional strategies, systems and procedures
- Internal research strengths
- Existing relationships and projects
- National and international policy dimensions
- Invest environment
- Key competitors
- CRM systems and policies
- Market and stakeholder needs
- Risk management and compliance
- REF
Examples of behaviour:
- Identify and share good practice with other functions in the organisation
- Listen, question and clarify in order to understand customers’ needs
- Ensure systems and processes are kept up to date and are fit for purpose
- Develop and encourage work streams and projects that support commercialisation and licensing of research outputs
- Be up to date with best customer service practice in the sector
- Recognise and respect the roles, responsibilities, interests and concerns of colleagues and stakeholders
Purpose:
- Develop an effective institutional strategy for KE/KT
- Drive financial sustainability and growth
- Secure institutional commitment to and engagement in KE/KT
- Contribute to the wider agenda on KE/KT, e.g. regional, national and international
Activity:
- Lead institutional KE/KT/TT policy and strategy
- Contribute to the institution’s research and commercialisation strategies (including consultancy)
- Develop the KE/KT/TT office/function and embed institutional practice
- Contribute to regional/national KE/KT/TT networks, policies and initiatives
- Identify new opportunities/approaches and present them to the senior management team
- Act as ambassador for the institution and for the profession
- Influence internal and external stakeholders
- Lead development of CRM and account management approaches, policies and systems
- Ensure policies, plans and practices are informed by the connectivity between KE/KT, REF and research impact
- Develop commercialisation, licensing policies and financial sustainability policies and strategies
Core Skills
- Leading people, teams and projects
- Risk management
- Financial and Budget management
- Communication and networking–contribute to networks and promoting KE/KT. Forging new relationships
- Influencing and negotiation – persuasive writing and presentation
- Analytical – develop systems, identifying opportunities
Underpinning Knowledge
- Institutional strategy
- Market and stakeholder needs
- Institutional strategy
- CRM systems and policies
- Key strategic relationships and projects
- Regional, national and International environment
- REF
Examples of behaviour:
- Ensure plans are consistent with the objectives of the institution
- Take a creative approach to change, which challenges assumptions and is not based purely on enhancing existing practice
- Communicate change in a positive manner through influencing and values-driven approach
- Support managers in operationalising commercialisation and licensing policy and strategy
- Actively seek new ideas and approaches from outside the institution
Technology Transfer (sometimes embedded in KE)
Purpose:
- Identify, assess, and protect institutional Intellectual Property (IP) to maximise use and uptake of research outputs
- Ensure financial viability and sustainability, balancing financial returns against broader returns, including impact of research outputs on the economy and society
Activity:
- Seek technology transfer (TT) opportunities that support institutional priorities
- Contribute to co-creation and co-production of research outputs
- Contribute to generating growth and increase financial sustainability
- Support researchers with effective in technology transfer in their relevant discipline
- Identify research proposals and projects that have potential technology transfer and commercialisation outputs
- Protect IP, including instructing and liaising with IP professionals such as patent agents and legal advisors
- Identify need for Proof of Concept or translational project development and seeking funding for this
- Broker relationships between researchers and licensees to generate collaboration
- Define, negotiate, and successfully close license and related agreements
- Seek and engage capable and effective management for spin-out companies
- Raise capital for spin-out companies e.g. Venture Capital, translational and development funding
- Deliver training and share best practice on technology transfer and commercialisation
Core Skills
- Critical analysis and due diligence – thoroughly research and investigate information before making a decision. Identify and match opportunities to KE/KT priorities. Identify the need for proof of concept (PoC)/development
- Problem Solving – finding creative solutions
- Communication–proposal and contract development; presentations
- Networking – internal and external customer and stakeholder engagement
- Negotiation – contracts, solutions, structuring deals, company structures, equity transactions etc.
- Numeracy – costing and pricing, company finances, business plans, complex license stacking, share dilution etc
Underpinning Knowledge
- Institutional strategy
- Institutional and partners’ remits
- Market and stakeholder needs
- IP advice
- Risk management and compliance
- Contracts, (e.g. due diligence), legal and tax issues (e.g. sub-contracting, licensing etc.)
- Commercial developments in relevant field
- Policy environment
- Use of CRM systems
Examples of behaviour:
- Listen, question and clarify in order to understand your clients’ needs
- Spot an opportunity and taking action
- Influence outcomes when bidding or negotiating for resources
- Provide cost benefit analysis implications of decisions
- Liaise with external bodies, suppliers and other HE bodies
Purpose:
- Develop systems and procedures to support enhanced institutional performance in relation to technology transfer
- Ensure that the institution adheres to legal and regulatory requirements in relation to technology transfer
- Manage the institutions portfolio of IP, balancing impact, costs and risks
Activity:
- Account manage key clients
- Facilitate, enable, and seek opportunities for co-creation and co-production of high-impact research outputs
- Identify and enable KE/KT/TT activity that generates growth (spin outs)
- Maintain ’up to date’ knowledge of potential partners, including funders, investors and potential licensees
- Lead relationships and linkages with other professional services functions
- Develop procedures to support technology transfer in all relevant forms e.g. licensing of copyrighted materials
- Monitor legal and regulatory requirements in relation to technology transfer
- Implement and developing CRM approaches
- Train, mentor and coach staff around technology transfer and commercialisation
- Manage the technology transfer function, ensuring quality of interactions with partners/customers
- Represent the institution
Core Skills
- Problem Solving – develop creative solutions to problems, and relevant procedures
- Training and Development – including coaching and mentoring of colleagues from across research, academic and professional services
- Influencing and negotiation- persuasive writing and presentation
- Communication and networking– writing reports, plans and delivering presentations. Sharing best practice
- People Management – including matrix management
- Project management, including risk and budget management
- Analytical – process design and delivery, designing measurement systems
Underpinning Knowledge
- Institutional strategies, systems and procedures
- Internal research strengths
- Existing relationships and projects
- National and international policy dimensions
- Invest environment
- Key competitors
- CRM systems and policies
- Market and stakeholder needs
- Risk management and compliance
- REF
Examples of behaviour:
- Share good practice with other parts of the organisation
- Listen, question and clarify in order to understand your clients’ needs
- Ensure systems and processes are kept up to date
- Be up to date with best client service practice in the sector
- Recognise and respect the roles, responsibilities, interests and concerns of colleagues and stakeholders
Purpose:
- Set the institution’s vision for technology transfer and its role in the work of the institution
- Drive financial sustainability and growth
- Develop achievable, measurable and realistic institutional processes and systems to promote and embed technology transfer
- Drive a cohesive approach to technology transfer, and secure institutional engagement in the technology transfer strategy
- Contribute to the wider agenda on KE/KT/TT, e.g. regional, national and international
Activity:
- Set the technology transfer vision for the institution, or support and contribute to this vision (institution-dependent)
- Develop strategies, policies and plans to drive co-creation and co-production of research outputs, to maximise impact
- Develop the technology transfer function and embed it in institutional practice
- Raise the profile of technology transfer and commercialisation within the organisation
- Contribute to regional and national technology transfer networks, policies and initiatives
- Identify colleagues’ training needs in relation to technology transfer
- Contribute to regional/national KE/KT/TT networks, policies and initiatives
- Act as ambassador for the institution and for the profession
- Ensure working practices are informed by the connectivity between technology transfer, sustainability and impact
- Lead development of CRM and account management approaches, policies and systems
- Develop commercialisation, licensing policies and financial sustainability policies and strategies
Core Skills
- Leading people, teams and projects, including risk management
- Financial and Budget management
- Communication and networking– presenting at internal/external meetings, contributing to national consultations, strategic stakeholder engagement
- Influencing and negotiation – persuasive writing and presentation
- Analytical – develop systems, identifying opportunities at strategic level
- Horizon Scanning – monitor the external environment for changes that might impact on the institution
Underpinning Knowledge
- Institutional strategy
- HE context
- Key strategic relationships and projects
- Major market trends, drivers and stakeholder needs
- Government Policy drivers
- Regional, national and International environment
- CRM systems and policies
- REF
Examples of behaviour:
- Ensure plans are consistent with the objectives of the organisation
- Take a creative approach to change which challenges assumptions and is not based purely on enhancing existing practice
- Communicate change in a positive manner through influencing and values-driven approach
- Actively seek new ideas and approaches from outside the organisation, to drive growth
- Create a team culture that encourages experimentation, innovation and creativity
Supporting CPD Courses
Purpose:
- Monitor and promote the value of running CPD courses as an additional income stream, at a local and institutional level
- Identify new opportunities based on market research and in areas of institutional expertise
- Ensure that training programmes meet stakeholder needs and are fit for purpose
Activity:
- Identify and respond to external training needs that match institutional priorities
- Identify opportunities for joint working across the institution and with external partners
- Research the market and the target audience
- Assess potential for income generation
- Plan and coordinate the delivery of CPD programmes
- Support the facilitators
- Monitor budgets
Core Skills
- Analytical – identifying training need, target audience
- Numeracy – costing and pricing possible courses
- Training and Development – course design
- Time management
- Information Management – co-ordinate venue booking, attendees
- Communication – written and spoken
Underpinning Knowledge
- Institutional strategic priorities (including Research and EDI)
- Sector knowledge
- Course design principles
- Finance and budgeting
- Contracts (e.g. due diligence)
- Legal and tax issues (e.g. sub-contracting to third party trainers etc.)
- Internal systems (CRM, course registration, finance)
Examples of behaviour:
- Ensure equal access to development opportunities for all
- Ensure a sustainable approach to utilizing resources and minimizing environmental impact
- Identify the information and knowledge people need and why they need it
- Identifying direct and indirect costs when planning a CPD programme
Purpose:
- Develop an achievable, measurable and realistic operational plan to oversee the delivery and administration of courses
- Develop systems and procedures to support enhanced institutional performance, including appropriate responses to quality assurance issues, e.g. professional accreditations, credit-bearing routes
Activity:
- Assure programme quality – institutional/Professional Body/other processes
- Develop procedures to support course development
- Identify effective marketing and publicity channels
- Implement and develop CRM approaches – maintaining a contact list of partners, speakers, participants, other suppliers
- Account manage a portfolio of customers/partners
- Monitor and respond to participant feedback
- Manage relationships and linkages with other professional services functions
Core Skills
- Problem Solving – develop procedures, trouble-shooting
- Analytical– manage quality assurance issues
- Networking – identify potential partners and share good practice
- Communication – summary of/response to feedback
- Interpersonal – listen, build relationships, give constructive feedback
Underpinning Knowledge
- Institutional strategy
- Institutional systems and procedures
- Internal teaching strengths
- Evaluation design
- Quality assurance, e.g. professional accreditation
- National and international policy
- Potential funder environment and competitor strengths
Examples of behaviour:
- Liaise with external bodies, suppliers and other HE bodies
- Use client feedback to drive improvements
- Deliver consistent service standards
- Engage positively with quality assessment processes
- Ensure that working arrangements, resources and processes respond to different needs, abilities, values and ways of working
Purpose:
- Develop an effective institutional strategy for CPD course provision
- Develop effective institutional processes and systems to underpin CPD course provision, including integration into the wider teaching/learning activity
- Secure institutional commitment to and engagement in CPD course provision
- Contribute to the wider agenda on CPD course provision
Activity:
- Lead institutional policy and strategy on CPD course provision
- Develop an appropriate support infrastructure to support CPD course provision
- Lead the development of new courses, e.g. identifying topics that could be delivered as CPD programmes
- Promote the importance of CPD course provision to institutional staff
- Identify new opportunities/approaches and presenting them to the senior management team
- Scan the external environment for new or changing trends
- Engaging and influencing internal and external stakeholders
- Lead development of CRM and account management approaches, policies and systems
- Ensure the alignment between CPD provision, REF and other strategic priorities
Core Skills
- Interpersonal – internal, stakeholder & external
- Communication – present opportunities to the senior management team
- Influencing – persuasive writing and presentation
- Analytical – develop systems, identifying opportunities, interpreting data
- Horizon Scanning – identify trends and new opportunities
- Horizon scanning – seek to identify future training trends
Underpinning Knowledge
- Institutional strategy
- Sector and market trends and drivers
- Existing major/strategic relationships and projects
- Government Policy drivers
- International environment
Examples of behaviour:
- Spot opportunities and take action
- Adapt internal approach to respond to external changes
- Scan the wider environment to seek new opportunities for growth and impact
- Ensure the CPD programmes are sustainable, impactful and financially viable
- Use informal systems and channels of communication to inform and support objectives
Additional Resources
