LERU represents 21 major research universities committed to high-quality teaching and research. It aims to influence EU policy, develop best practices, and ensure relevance for research universities. Key topics on LERU's agenda include EU research policy, careers, assessment, and the importance of humanities/social sciences. It recommends that universities embrace impact assessment but in a balanced way that recognizes different types and timeframes of impact. LERU engages with the EU on these issues through papers, events, and meetings to advocate for universities.

1. 1
Impact at EU level:
LERU’s perspectives
Dr. Katrien Maes
Chief Policy Officer LERU
Irish Humanities Alliance – Belfast, 8 June 2015

2. Members (II)
2
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

3. 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

4. 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) …

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Recognising different
dimensions of impact
Categories of impact
Types: Academic, applied, educational, medical, economic,
organisational, …
Beneficiary domains of impact
Organisations and individuals: Academic, applied, educational,
medical, economic, organisational, …
Pathways to impact
Actions undertaken: Knowledge exchange and public engagement
Assessing impact
Data vs stories

11. Impact at EU level
EU
Impact is a political issue (cf. Juncker)
EFSI
Changes in EC DG leadership
H2020
Low success rates
Excessive focus on economic impact
FP7 impact evaluation report (end of 2015)
Framework at grant application stage needed
Use variety of impact tools to the best of their abilities
Keep impact log along the way

12. 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.

13. Questions?
Info@leru.org
www.leru.org
13
League of European Research Universities (LERU)
Minderbroedersstraat 8
3000 Leuven - BELGIUM
Mail katrien.maes@leru.org
Twitter @katrien.maes
Linked-In