Developing research impact guidelines for the HSRC
STATUS: Current
PROJECT LEADER:
Roscigno, C (Mrs Carolina), Rule, SP (Dr Stephen)
OTHER TEAM MEMBERS: Yu, K (Dr Ke Yu), Van Der Merwe, C (Ms Chanel), Shandu, BNG (Ms Balungile), Masilela, BST (Dr Temba)
DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE:
Impact Centre (IC),
Impact Centre (PRESS),
Impact Centre (CC)
Abstract
A RIA task team has since consulted previous work of the HSRC on research impact, relevant literature, and policy and guideline documents from bodies such as the National Treasury, the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME), and the Council on Higher Education (CHE), and held discussions with executive directors (EDs) and HSRC researchers. The draft framework (3rd version) was tabled in June 2014
Project goals
??? To further develop a scientific knowledge base on research impact;
??? To cultivate research/methodological/administrative expertise and capacity on research impact;
??? To establish HSRC (and RIA) as the champion on research impact in South Africa/Africa;
??? To initiate, coordinate and foster collaboration between the HSRC and other cognate partners/stakeholders/interested parties regarding future projects and activities on research impact nationally (and possibly regionally and globally);
Project objectives
Specific objectives of the project include:
??? Further clarifying the concepts of research impact and the different ways to categorise it;
??? Further elucidating the confusion surrounding research impact methods and other pertinent methodological issues;
??? Collating and benchmarking current (good) practices from other similar organisations (science councils, selected universities and NGOs), as well as selected key funding agencies;
??? Producing a number of concrete (methodological) guides on HSRC???s research impact framework (e.g. on the dimensions to consider for research impact case studies).
??? Initiating a pilot impact assessment of a recent major HSRC project (e.g. SANHANES-1) as a means of testing the methodologies envisaged in this proposal. The pilot assessment would be registered as a separate project.
