AHRC Workshop, 12 July 2013, University of Birmingham

1. AHRC Guidance on Public Policy
Engagement
Dr Ian Lyne
Associate Director of Research

2. Overview
• Context – the ‘Impact Agenda’
• Planning and Demonstrating
Engagement
• AHRC Funding schemes

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. • 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

7. • 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

8. 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)

9. 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/

10. 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.”

11. 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

12. AHRC Funding to Support
Policy Engagement
• Fellowships
• Research Grants
• Research Networking
– Highlight notice on Public
Policy in this scheme.

13. 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.

14. Research Networking Scheme
Public Policy Highlight Notice
• The Highlight notice runs until 31 December 2013
• http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/Funding-
Opportunities/Pages/Public-Policy-Highlight-Notice.aspx

15. Thank you -
Comments or Questions?