1) Ghent University is working to create a supportive impact culture by developing common understanding, taxonomy, and roadmap around impact. 2) This includes open science policies, research evaluation frameworks, and rewards/incentives for impactful research like career progression and funding requirements. 3) The university is taking a case study approach to impact evaluation and investing in knowledge brokers to strengthen impact trajectories across interdisciplinary research areas.

1. IMPACT: BUZZWORD OR BASELINE?
NARMA Conference – 5 March 2019 - Esther De Smet
Senior Research Policy Advisor @ResearchUGent
RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
POLICY & QUALITY CONTROL UNIT
Creating a supportive impact culture at Ghent University

2. Policy
People
Platforms

3. 3
 Context: no top-down driver
 Institutional policy plan (May 2015)
• Common understanding: valorisation > impact
• Taxonomy of pathways to impact
• Roadmap of changes
Science communication
Contribution to public debate
Policy advice/influence
Participatory/co-creative research
Service to society

4. 4
 Open Science
 Institutional vision for research evaluation (DORA)
 Rewards & incentives
• Allocation model: faculty contract
• Career progression model: part of research & teaching
• Funding requirements: plan ahead, be able to articulate
• Training
Interdisciplinarity

5. 5
 Different approach
• Case studies: narratives, focus on process & interactions
• Responsible use of indicators and descriptors
Impact literacy (Bayley & Phipps)
Invest in network (international)

6. 6
 Strategic investment in impact knowledge brokers
• Embedded in interdisciplinary research consortia aimed at societal impact
• Funded by own Special Research Fund + Part of Research Department
• Cf. Business liaison centres funded by Industrial Research Fund
• Evaluation on the basis of (1) impact trajectories or pathways and (2) case study
approach
 Community of practice: decentralised network, train-
the-trainer

7. 7
 GISMO: making impact activities & expertise visible
• E-CV (reusable data)
• Altmetric
 University-wide PE & outreach platforms
• Extensive scicomm events
• De Krook
• Ghent University Museum
 Accomplissh – ENRESSH - …
 Adapted communication (incl. case studies/success stories)

8. Esther De Smet
Senior Research Policy Advisor
@ResearchUGent
https://www.ugent.be/en/research/soc-impact.htm
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