The Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit
The purpose of this Toolkit is to offer a suite of research-based tools that can be used by higher education institutions to:
- Develop a formal research impact strategy
- Devise strategies for leading, managing and practicing impact
- Align impact work with engagement, knowledge exchange, outreach and quality improvement
- Inform teaching and learning
- Improve processes and infrastructure
- Build capacity, skills and knowledge
The Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit is an Advance HE member benefit and was devised by Dr Elizabeth Morrow an independent researcher. This work was made possible by the support of the four higher education funding councils of the UK.
You may also be interested in the Research Leadership Development Programme
Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit – Introductory PDF
The Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit introductory PDF is a complete guide on how to make the best of the toolkit according to your job role.
Published On: 11/12/2017
Research Leader's Impact Toolkit – Introductory PDF
Research Leader's Impact Toolkit – Introductory PDF
Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit – Orientating
Orientating to impact is essential for understanding what impact means for an Higher education institution, its departments, research teams and staff. Investing time in orientating to the issues can inform strategy development and support effective leadership and management of research through understanding the opportunities and challenges impact presents.
In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for:
- Orientating to impact is essential for understanding what impact means for an Higher education institution, its departments, research teams and staff. Investing time in orientating to the issues can inform strategy development and support effective leadership and management of research through understanding the opportunities and challenges impact presents.
- In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for:
- Understanding which definition of impact you are working with
- Being aware of five fundamental principles of impact
- Knowing your drivers for impact
- Understanding the benefits of impact
- Being aware of the challenges impact can raise
Published On: 22/08/2017
Research Leader's Impact Toolkit – Orientating
Orientating to impact is essential for understanding what impact means for an Higher education institution, its departments, research teams and staff. Investing time in orientating to the issues can inform strategy development and support effective leadership and management of research through understanding the opportunities and challenges impact presents. In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for: Understanding which definition of impact you are working with Being aware of five fundamental principles of impact Knowing your drivers for impact Understanding the benefits of impact Being aware of the challenges impact can raise
Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit – Visioning
Visioning impact is vital for understanding how to support impact with leadership, governance and management. Visioning is the process of exploring possibilities, generating ideas and deciding targets. It brings benefits for the whole organisation, through identifying focus and direction for impact as part of the organisation’s mission.
In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for:
- Knowing the key features of outstanding impact
- Understanding different rationale and interests people may hold
- Anticipating the horizon of possible benefits
- Knowing what to consider when setting impact targets
- Identifying areas for improvement in your organisation or department
Published On: 22/08/2017
Research Leader's Impact Toolkit – Visioning
Visioning impact is vital for understanding how to support impact with leadership, governance and management. Visioning is the process of exploring possibilities, generating ideas and deciding targets. It brings benefits for the whole organisation, through identifying focus and direction for impact as part of the organisation’s mission. In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for: Knowing the key features of outstanding impact Understanding different rationale and interests people may hold Anticipating the horizon of possible benefits Knowing what to consider when setting impact targets Identifying areas for improvement in your organisation or department
Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit – Mobilising
Mobilising for impact is an essential prerequisite for developing capacity to achieve impact. It involves understanding the present situation, knowing what changes are needed at different levels in the organisation, and directing resources accordingly.
In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for:
- Inspiring impact through leadership
- Supporting impact with management
- Reflecting on the skills and knowledge needed for impact
- Providing basic impact training for research staff
- Accessing advanced training, funding and specialist support
Published On: 22/08/2017
Research Leader's Impact Toolkit – Mobilising
Mobilising for impact is an essential prerequisite for developing capacity to achieve impact. It involves understanding the present situation, knowing what changes are needed at different levels in the organisation, and directing resources accordingly. In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for: Inspiring impact through leadership Supporting impact with management Reflecting on the skills and knowledge needed for impact Providing basic impact training for research staff Accessing advanced training, funding and specialist support
Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit – Engaging
Engagement of academic and professional services staff within an higher education institution is important for embedding
impact in organisational structures and systems. Senior organisational leaders, research managers and impact leads need to engage staff to ensure that developing impact is seen as an essential part of the research endeavour.
In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for:
- Engaging whole organisations in achieving impact
- Developing impact through interdisciplinary research
- Knowledge Exchange as a conduit for research impact
- Engaging stakeholders in research
- Developing public involvement in research
Published On: 22/08/2017
Research Leader's Impact Toolkit – Engaging
Engagement of academic and professional services staff within an higher education institution is important for embedding impact in organisational structures and systems. Senior organisational leaders, research managers and impact leads need to engage staff to ensure that developing impact is seen as an essential part of the research endeavour. In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for: Engaging whole organisations in achieving impact Developing impact through interdisciplinary research Knowledge Exchange as a conduit for research impact Engaging stakeholders in research· Developing public involvement in research
Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit – Integrating
Integrating impact in research is essential for developing a higher education institution’s capabilities to deliver impact. Integration of strategies and support for impact brings benefits for the whole organisation through improvements in research design and research practice. Integrating impact spans into other types of impact such as the impact of effective research management and the impact of research on teaching.
In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for:
- Building impact into different types of research
- Exploring possible routes to impact
- Developing a timeframe for impact
- Writing an impact statement
- Writing an impact plan
Published On: 22/08/2017
Research Leader's Impact Toolkit – Integrating
Integrating impact in research is essential for developing a higher education institution’s capabilities to deliver impact. Integration of strategies and support for impact brings benefits for the whole organisation through improvements in research design and research practice. Integrating impact spans into other types of impact such as the impact of effective research management and the impact of research on teaching. In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for: Building impact into different types of research Exploring possible routes to impact Developing a timeframe for impact Writing an impact statement Writing an impact plan
Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit – Embedding
Embedding impact refers to the development of supportive organisational cultures, structures and systems for research impact. This toolkit emphasises an embedded approach to research impact by encouraging leaders and managers to reflect on the organisational conditions that enable staff to maximise research impact.
In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for:
- Cultivating an impact culture
- Building mechanisms for exchange
- Connecting with context
- Embedding universal structures for impact
- Propagating promising impact
Published On: 22/08/2017
Research Leader's Impact Toolkit – Embedding
Embedding impact refers to the development of supportive organisational cultures, structures and systems for research impact. This toolkit emphasises an embedded approach to research impact by encouraging leaders and managers to reflect on the organisational conditions that enable staff to maximise research impact. In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for: Cultivating an impact culture Building mechanisms for exchange Connecting with context Embedding universal structures for impact Propagating promising impact
Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit – Evaluating
Evaluation is crucial for evidencing the impact of research, particularly for the purpose of research assessment. Evaluating impact is also important for understanding and developing impact. For example, evaluation of the processes involved in generating impact can inform future impact practices.
In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for:
- Reflecting on impact evaluation criteria
- Planning an impact evaluation
- Evaluating stakeholder engagement
- Evaluating public involvement
- Evaluating the strength of your claim to impact
Published On: 22/08/2017
Research Leader's Impact Toolkit – Evaluating
Evaluation is crucial for evidencing the impact of research, particularly for the purpose of research assessment. Evaluating impact is also important for understanding and developing impact. For example, evaluation of the processes involved in generating impact can inform future impact practices. In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for: Reflecting on impact evaluation criteria Planning an impact evaluation Evaluating stakeholder engagement Evaluating public involvement Evaluating the strength of your claim to impact
Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit – Capturing
Capturing impact is imperative for informing evaluations of impact and for creating case studies, reports or accounts that communicate impact effectively. Focusing on capturing impact can also lead to better management of research data and more accessible research information.
In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for:
- Collecting different types of evidence to show impact
- Using measures and quantitative indicators of impact
- Using altmetrics
- Getting the most out of Research Information Systems
- Capturing stakeholder’s, research user’s and beneficiary’s perspectives of impact
Published On: 22/08/2017
Research Leader's Impact Toolkit – Capturing
Capturing impact is imperative for informing evaluations of impact and for creating case studies, reports or accounts that communicate impact effectively. Focusing on capturing impact can also lead to better management of research data and more accessible research information. In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for: Collecting different types of evidence to show impact Using measures and quantitative indicators of impact Using altmetrics Getting the most out of Research Information Systems Capturing stakeholder’s, research user’s and beneficiary’s perspectives of impact
Research Leader’s Impact Toolkit – Communicating
Communicating is essential for evidencing the impact of research but it is also fundamental to an embedded approach to research impact. Communication about impact can bring benefits for the whole organisation through raising awareness within an higher education institution and building a reputation for research impact beyond academia.
In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for:
- Influencing policy and policymakers
- Generating a reputation for impact
- Communicating with research users
- Communicating with the public
- Using the world wide web and social media for impact
Published On: 22/08/2017
Research Leader's Impact Toolkit – Communicating
Communicating is essential for evidencing the impact of research but it is also fundamental to an embedded approach to research impact. Communication about impact can bring benefits for the whole organisation through raising awareness within an higher education institution and building a reputation for research impact beyond academia. In this section of the toolkit you will find tools for: Influencing policy and policymakers Generating a reputation for impact Communicating with research users Communicating with the public Using the world wide web and social media for impact
