Description

PhD students are at a pivotal stage in their academic and professional development. While the traditional focus of research has been on advancing knowledge within academic circles, there is growing recognition that the value of research goes beyond it and lies also in its broader impact on society, economy, environment, etc. Focusing on societal impact is not only an ethical responsibility it also offers a strategic advantage. It enhances the relevance of research work, opens up diverse career pathways, and contributes to addressing the world's most pressing challenges. The course “How to direct your research towards societal impact?” will help PhD students developing their knowledge, competencies and skills in embedding impact as a key element of their research journey, understanding their role in this journey and providing them with the tools for impact planning and assessment.

Program

The course has been designed around two modules, each aimed to answer two specific objectives of the training programme, as follows:

MODULE 1 Getting the Basics: Understanding Impact

DAY 1: Monday, 7 April, 9:30-11:00 Objective 1: Providing knowledge and understanding of the concept of impact.

DAY 2: Tuesday, 8 April: 9:30-10:30 Objective 2: Providing an understanding about the institutional impact context.

MODULE 2 Going Deeper: Understanding the Tools used for Planning and Assessing Impact

DAY 3: Wednesday, 9 April, 9:30-11:00 Objective 3: Providing an understanding of the impact journey and the process of impact. Tools for planning and assessing impact.Introduction to the Group Work Exercise.

DAY 4: Thursday, 10 April: 9:30-11:00 Objective 3 (Cont.) Group Work Exercise with lecturers’ assistance.

DAY 5 Monday, 14 April: 9:30-11:00 Objective 3 (Cont.) Group Work Presentations. Conclusions and feedback.

Metodology

Module 1 (Getting the Basics: Understanding Impact) has been designed to meet objectives 1 and 2 of the training programme and will focus in answering the following questions:

1. Objective 1: Providing knowledge and understanding of the concept of “impact”: What is impact and why is knowledge and literacy about it important? What is the vocabulary around impact?

2. Objective 2: Providing an understanding about the institutional impact context? How is impact supported and promoted in and beyond the University context? What is your role in promoting research with societal impact?

Module 2 (Going Deeper: Understanding the Tools used for Planning and Assessing Impact) has been designed to meet objectives 3 and 4 of the training programme and will focus in answering the following questions:

3. Providing an understanding of the impact journey and the process of impact. What are the different stages of the pathway to impact? How to design an impact pathway? How to plan for impact? How do you perform a stakeholder analysis?

4. Providing knowledge and tools for impact assessment. How to monitor and assess the impact of research? How to get evidence of research impact? What are the possible strategies to manage the observed outcomes and impacts. Participants will be asked to put into practice their knowledge using the suggested tools through group work exercise. They will be assisted by the lecturers during their practical work exercises. The results will be shared with all participants and feedback will be given by both lecturers and other participants.

Assessment

No evaluation.

Certificate

Certificate of achievement for those who pass the evaluation test.

Observations

Pre-requisites: Students in the second academic year and subsequent years, from all fields of knowledge. Participants should have a genuine interest in improving their knowledge and develop their competencies and skills to promote research with societal impact.