GLOSSARY: Knowledge Exchange, Public Engagement, Impact
Jump to: KEI at LSE
Knowledge exchange is defined by the ESRC as a two-way exchange between researchers and research users, to share ideas, research evidence, experiences and skills. It refers to any process through which academic ideas and insights are shared, and external perspectives and experiences are brought into academia.
DEFINITION: Knowledge Exchange
• Sharing knowledge, experience, ideas, evidence or expertise with non-academic communities
• In ways intended to be mutually beneficial
• Goes beyond just telling people things –how do you know they are listening?
• Can happen at any time in the research process
• Is not restricted to the UK
Engagement should be thought of as a two-way process of listening and interaction, with a goal to generate mutual benefit.
DEFINITION: Public Engagement
• A sub-set of knowledge exchange, i.e. still a two-way process intended to be mutually beneficial
• Not communication to an undifferentiated group of people, there is no ‘general’ public. You still need to know who you want to engage with your work, and why
• Can be achieved in many ways, not just via talks or lectures
Effective engagement activities should maximize the non-academic impact of your work; done well, they can also enhance its academic impact by broadening your research horizons, opening up fresh perspectives and providing access to new research participants or data.
DEFINITION: Impact
• Is any tangible effect, change or benefit felt in the world beyond academia, to which academic research has in some way contributed.
• May be making something good happen or stopping something bad from happening
• Is not about media mentions / meeting with politicians / video downloads etc., but the things that happen as a result of these
• Matters in contexts beyond the REF; it is the reason why much research is done – and funded – in the first place
Impact is the change, effect or benefit brought about in the economy or society as a result of research or expertise. Impacts can range from the concrete to the conceptual and include effects on: policy discussion and formulation; on the structures, processes or decision making of business and civil society organisations; on education and pedagogical techniques beyond LSE; and on public debate and understanding. Research impact can take any form and may be felt on any extra-academic individual, group or organization, anywhere in the world.
Knowledge exchange and engagement activities often will not have an immediate impact. However, they should offer routes to impact, increasing the visibility and accessibility of your research in ways that maximize the chance of it making a difference to the world outside of academia. Doing this may well require you to develop new or improve existing skills, beyond those that are core to academic work. Think about your engagement with non-academic audiences as ongoing: this is a life’s work, not a one-off activity.
The value of engaging non-academic audiences with research extends beyond the individual to the institutional. It helps to empower people, broadens attitudes and ensures that the work of universities and research institutes is understood by society at large relevant to wider societal priorities and concerns.
The value of knowledge exchange is widely recognized, including by research funders. Demonstrating engagement with your research is now a requirement for almost anyone seeking funding for their work. It is also crucial in the context of national higher education quality assessments, notably including the REF (Research Excellence Framework) and the forthcoming KEF (Knowledge Exchange Framework).
Since its foundation, LSE has worked hard to secure its position both as a global research institute and at the forefront of efforts to maximize the benefits of social science. Our commitment to addressing public problems through the advancement of social science is underpinned by KEI and public engagement activities and reflected in our 2030 strategy.
LSE 2030: Research for the World aims to:
- Maintain and strengthen LSE’s position as the leading global specialist social sciences institution, through supporting and promoting research excellence across the breadth of our research interests;
- Contribute to the betterment of society through increasing the impact of our research and innovation;
- Take a leading role in ensuring that the social sciences are valued, including their vital contribution to understanding the world and how/why it changes.
Knowledge exchange is global, not restricted to the UK. LSE has an important role to play locally and globally; this is reflected in our research and should likewise be reflected in our knowledge exchange and engagement activities.