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Impact at EU level:

LERU’s perspectives

Dr. Katrien MaesChief Policy Officer LERU

Irish Humanities Alliance – Belfast, 8 June 2015

Members (II)

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21 European research-intensive universities committed to the values of high quality teaching within an environment of internationally competitive research.

Influence policy in

Europe

Develop best practice

Relevance for all RIUs

Founded in 2002

Commitment

• Encourage education through an awareness of the frontiers of human understanding

• Foster the creation of new knowledge through basic research as the ultimate source of innovation in society

• Promote research across a broad front, which creates a unique capacity to respond to new opportunities and problems.

Proactive policy development and articulation through the publication of papers, meetings in Brussels and other activities

Opportunities for institutional reflection, exchanges of experience and collaborative actions

What is on the LERU agenda

• EU research policy, ERA, Erasmus+, H2020, EFSI, …

• Research careers, gender, doctoral education, …

• Open scholarship, science 2.0, TDM, copyright, digital single market,…

• Research assessment, impact, metrics, peer review, …

• RRI: research integrity, science and society-public engagement, ECI, animal research, (also gender in RRI) …

LERU and SSH

Why Humanities and Social Sciences Community (together)

EU influence via SSH papers, SSH Voice events, meetings, engagements, etc.

“Roadmap to improve the position of SSH research in ERA and H2020” (9/2013)

“43 shades of SSH in H2020?” (12/2013,SSH event)

“An ERA of change” (5/2014) – SSH one of six new focus areas for EU

“Leiden Statement (9/2014) – Global dimension

LERU’s (SS)H messages for the EU

• SSH integration in H2020-SC pillar: not a success

• Humanities clearly not a priority

• SC6 – small budget and a lot to COST

(transparency on share of non R&D&I activities in SC6 – 20%)

• SC7 – calls are technology-focused, neglecting the human factor

• Call attention to the importance of intercultural skills in today’s society

LERU and assessment

“Research universities and research assessment” (LERU, 2012)Recommendations to universities: •Reflect the views of those at the “coal face”•Assessment methodology and process should be transparent and explicit

– suite of methods - inputs, outputs and longer term impact – be aware of limitations of each

•Information from universities:– accurate, up-to-date– unique personal and institutional names– central and linked database for all research data

• e.g. HR, publications, grants, commercialisation, publications, esteem measures etc.• for multiple uses• avoid duplication

LERU and assessment

External agencies should: •ensure consistency for reliable comparisons (nationally, within Europe and ideally beyond)•avoid creating perverse incentives/behaviours•recognise broader role of universities

To measure or not measure…

•“If you can measure that of which you speak, and can express it by a number, you know something of your subject; but if you cannot measure it, your knowledge is meagre and unsatisfactory” William Thomson, Lord Kelvin •“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” Albert Einstein

LERU and impact

1. Impact is not new to universities.

2. Impact agenda must be embraced by universities.

3. Addressing concerns, misperceptions, anxieties about impact:

• Political interest

• Economic impact only

• Academic freedom

• Short-termism

Recognising different dimensions of impact

Categories of impactTypes: Academic, applied, educational, medical, economic, organisational, …

Beneficiary domains of impactOrganisations and individuals: Academic, applied, educational, medical, economic, organisational, …

Pathways to impactActions undertaken: Knowledge exchange and public engagement

Assessing impactData vs stories

Impact at EU level

EUImpact is a political issue (cf. Juncker)EFSIChanges in EC DG leadership

H2020Low success ratesExcessive focus on economic impactFP7 impact evaluation report (end of 2015)

Framework at grant application stage neededUse variety of impact tools to the best of their abilitiesKeep impact log along the way

Key messages

Wider than economic benefit

Not easy to document or measure

Quantitative and qualitative

Good indicators

Sensible interpretation

Long term effects

Universities can/should embrace impact and set the agenda.

Pro-active and practical role to play for universities in the developing debate at EU level.

Questions?

Info@leru.org

www.leru.org

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League of European Research Universities (LERU)Minderbroedersstraat 83000 Leuven - BELGIUM

Mail katrien.maes@leru.orgTwitter @katrien.maes Linked-In