Why does impact matter?

'Impact' is now an important part of the research landscape in the UK.

What is meant by impact may vary depending on who is using the term - from engagement with user communities, to evidenced changes in behaviour. But there is no escaping the fact that, as researchers, we are increasingly expected to do more than simply make our research publicly available (through publication or other means). Rather, where appropriate, we are expected and sometimes required by funders to work with other users of research. 

In particular the two main public funders of our research, the Funding Councils (through REF) and the Research Councils, both require impact activities to be undertaken. The commitment to embed public engagement in universities was also laid out in the Concordat for Engaging the Public with Research, to which all UK Research Councils are signatories. Simply put, our key funders view impact as an intrinsic part of the research activity. 

Underpinning this is a very simple principle: that if research undertaken with public money can benefit society, cultural life or the economy, then it is the duty of the researcher to facilitate this.

Further, research which has an impact contributes to a greater understanding and appreciation of what universities do and serves to strengthen relevance and reinforce accountability.   

For some researchers in the UK, impact is simply instrumental: that it is required in order to obtain the funding to undertake research, or to obtain a good score in the REF and from this an improved profile for research at a particular University. For others however it is much more than this: that we as researchers have an obligation to use our research findings for the betterment of society. 

Aberystwyth University's view is that our research can make an important difference. The University has a history deeply rooted in and supported by the community, which has led to an institutional ethos firmly centred on civic responsibility and social cohesion. One of our core objectives as an institution is to continue to focus on addressing contemporary challenges through research and contribute to civic debate in Wales, the UK and the wider world.

We've developed our Impact Toolkit in the hope that it can support researchers at AU in developing their impact agenda and provide them with new ways of thinking about impact. We hope you find the following sections of the toolkit useful. If you have any questions, please get in touch at research@aber.ac.uk.