Inspirational Impact 2 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S VIEW BIRMINGHAM GLOBAL
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NEWS 1 172 buzz February/March 2018 Inspirational Impact 2 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S VIEW BIRMINGHAM GLOBAL Vice-Chancellor’s view Why bother with research impact? There As it happened, this was exactly the are, I suppose, two easy answers. The first month that my appointment as Chief is the simple rhetorical question: ‘who Executive of the Higher Education Funding wants to do research that has no impact?’ Council was announced. I therefore And if this does not work for you determined that my first priority was to Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David Eastwood there is the hard reality that in REF 2021 save the RAE. The decision was reversed research impact will count for 25% of in the summer of 2006 and RAE 2008 supported now by a very substantial a unit’s, and thus an institution’s, score. went ahead. investment in professional services staff So the inescapable reality is that impact There were, however, important to support the identification, development, matters. It is, and it must be, an absolute consequences. The Treasury made it clear and crafting of impact case studies. priority. that it remained unconvinced that it was There still needs to be further work to The history of impact and the REF is both getting a sufficient return on the public identify the best impact case studies for interesting and revealing. Back in February investment in research and believed some units of assessment. Where we have 2006, the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown, that the higher education sector, and already identified outstanding candidates announced that the Research Assessment the Research Assessment Exercise, had for impact case studies, work is well Exercise would be abolished, and in future, not yet demonstrated convincingly the advanced to underpin those cases with all research funding would be driven by economic and social benefits of research. the kind of supporting evidence which competitively won funding from research The challenge was put to me and to the will be compelling to REF panels. councils and other research funders. Funding Council to come up with an The importance of impact does mean enhanced mechanism to demonstrate that we will need to continue to think the value of research. and operate differently. It is critical that YOUR BUZZ At stake here was the scale of future colleagues who have outstanding impact research funding, and indeed our ability case studies are appropriately recognised Next edition 11 April 2018 to fund the results of RAE 2008. What we through our promotions and reward Copy deadline 9 March 2018 came up with were impact case studies, processes. We need to make full use of and I persuaded the Treasury that we could the resources that we have made available Contact us incorporate impact through the evaluation to support the development of impact. [email protected] of impact case studies in the next RAE. Nearer the time, we will need to make Buzz online After much work, the methodology was some tactical decisions about where some buzz.bham.ac.uk refined and impact was first run in REF of those impact case studies are most 2014. After much apprehension, the general appropriately returned, and in some cases Follow us on Twitter view was that the impact case studies in how they are further strengthened by twitter.com/buzzunibham REF 2014 were a success. They certainly additional investment. Find us on Facebook gave convincing evidence which persuaded From the analysis that I have seen, I am facebook.com/buzzunibham government to enhance its funding persuaded that if we get our approach right commitment to research. We see some we will have an outstanding return for REF of the fruits of this in the increased funding 2021, which will both recognise the range commitment running through to 2021. Also and transformative impact of our university’s the 2014 impact case studies demonstrated research. All five of our colleges have Edited by Matthew Collins the profound value of research not just in outstanding stories to tell and these impact [email protected] the STEM disciplines but also in Social case studies, combined with outstanding Sciences, Humanities, and Creative Arts. outputs and the investment that we have Your details If, however, we look at this from a made in the research environment, should Please let us know if you want extra Birmingham perspective, in REF 2014 ensure that our REF performance places copies of Buzz or if you think we need we underperformed our ambitions and us in the sector’s research elite. In so to amend your distribution details. expectations, not least because, though our doing, we will have again demonstrated the best impact case studies were outstanding, profound importance both of fundamental Views expressed in the magazine are there was too long a tail of weaker and research and the effective translation not necessarily those of the University less compelling case studies. We are of that research. or a statement of University policy. determined to address this for REF 2021. Interestingly, that was the vision of this All submissions may be subject to Planning is already well advanced. The university’s founders, it is what makes a editing. The Editor’s decision is final. recent appointment of Professor Heather great research university in the twenty-first Widdows as Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor century, and it is what will underpin our future. for Research Impact has given us skilled Front cover image: and inspirational leadership in this area. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Heather Widdows. Heather, and Professor Tim Softley, are Professor Sir David Eastwood VICE-CHANCELLOR’S VIEW BIRMINGHAM GLOBAL 3 BIRMINGHAM GLOBAL USA UNIVERSITY HOSTS PRESTIGIOUS ‘FULBRIGHT INTERNATIONAL FORUM’ FOR TOP AMERICAN ACADEMIC SCHOLARS REPUTATION: YOUR UNIVERSITY NEEDS YOU! The University recently hosted the prestigious annual Fulbright As the University works to grow its Forum, featuring over 50 top American academic scholars here position as a global university, an at the University of Birmingham. essential measure of this success is securing and maintaining a top 100 During the event, 55 American ‘Fulbrighters’ with them than any other university in position in all the major international had the chance to explore cultural and the UK. We are delighted to be bringing league tables. Whatever we think about historical resources at the University. all our American Fulbrighters to experience leagues tables, they carry an inevitable It was particularly special this year as the their warm hospitality.’ influence when attracting the best staff, inaugural event celebrated the US–UK The University’s academics led sessions students and international research Commission’s 70th anniversary. to engage and challenge the Fulbright connections as well as research income. The US–UK Fulbright Commission was scholars, including topics such as how Our position in the international founded by diplomatic treaty in 1948 to cultural heritage and global engagement league tables has remained largely foster intercultural understanding between provide distinctive experiences in the static or dropped slightly over the past the United States of America and the UK global higher education landscape. few years, despite some significant through educational exchange. The University has also recently tendered gains in several of the underlying Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David for, and was successful in a bid, to host indicators, including citations and Eastwood said: ‘We are honoured to one of the Commission’s popular summer international outlook. welcome Fulbright scholars to the University Institutes for American undergraduates to Academic reputation, based on of Birmingham. We are a global university experience all that Birmingham has to offer. the responses to an online survey and our research creates impact around Applications for Fulbright US academic distributed to academics across the the world; I hope that every scholar will awards to undertake research and/or world by the league table providers, find their visit to Birmingham productive, teaching in the UK will open in March. The is a key indicator in the rankings and insightful and thought-provoking.’ Postgraduate Awards will open in April. represents the biggest opportunity Penny Egan CBE, Executive Director of For more information on the Fulbright to improve our position. the Fulbright Commission, said: ‘We love commission and available awards, please A new International Reputation unit working with the University of Birmingham contact Catherine Lemon (International within External Relations is leading and have more Fulbright partner awards Relations) [email protected]. this work, supported by the Colleges and Professional Services. SHARE THE QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS SURVEY WITH YOUR INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS The International Reputation team will contact you in February with the link to the survey. Why not complete the survey for your own international research contacts/collaborators and then let them know, so that they can return the favour? Scholars at the Fulbright Forum 4 NEWS EQUALITIES Date for the diary Vice-Chancellor’s Join #TeamUoB Open Forum Tuesday 13 February, for the Great 12.30–1.30pm, The Bramall Part Two of the Vice-Chancellor’s interviews with Mark Leach, founder, Birmingham 10K Editor and CEO of Wonkhe, the higher education policy commentators. The interview will cover key issues facing the higher education sector Whether you walk, jog or run, UBSport Ioana Chiva, who currently works and the University. and DARO are encouraging everyone in Careers Network, will be running from across the University to join for the appeal as part of TeamUoB. Birmingham #TeamUoB for the Great Birmingham ‘Support from a mentor when I was Professional Forum 10K on Sunday 6 May 2018. studying Law changed my life and Friday 23 March, By joining our team you’ll receive a helped me achieve my dream of training 11.00am–12.00noon, The Bramall discounted race fee, a free race t-shirt to become a solicitor,’ she says.