Research Engagement and Impact working groups appointed

The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced the members of the two Engagement and Impact working groups that will assist in the development of a research engagement and impact assessment for Australia.

The news comes one week after the appointment of the Expert Working Group that will help set the direction of Australia’s research infrastructure and priorities over the coming decade.

The role of the Technical Working Group is to provide expert advice on the development of indicators that will support a national engagement and impact assessment, including: advice regarding development of an appropriate methodology; assessment requirements for different disciplines and end users; and development of appropriate measures/indicators of research engagement and research impact.

The role of the Performance and Incentives Working Group is to provide advice to the ARC about the potential incentive effects of the preferred model, including how the process and measures in the preferred model will influence the decisions of universities about the focus of their research activities.

“These working groups will provide critical advice and support to the Engagement and Impact Steering Committee as we develop this new [research engagement and impact] assessment,” said ARC Chief Executive Officer Professor Aidan Byrne.

“The groups are made up of experts from across the sector, including international experts, and I have the utmost confidence they will contribute greatly in this development process.”

The members of the working groups can be viewed on the ARC website.