University Enterprise: The Growth and Impact of University-Related Companies in London

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 483-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave Chapman ◽  
Helen Lawton Smith ◽  
Peter Wood ◽  
Timothy Barnes ◽  
Saverio Romeo
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Public Funding ◽  
Research And Teaching ◽  
Traditional Research ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
The Uk ◽  
National Economies ◽  
Uk Higher Education ◽  
The Impact

Over the last decade policies framing the enterprise agenda for UK higher education institutions (HEIs) have consistently emphasized the potential impact of successful universities on both regional and national economies. Such policies have been backed by significant public funding to ensure that the UK HEI sector is able to compete globally in the creation and exploitation of cutting-edge science. Collectively, these initiatives have led to the development of a ‘third mission’ for universities – increasing the pace and impact of knowledge-exchange activities – while simultaneously maintaining and improving their more traditional research and teaching activities. Previous studies have demonstrated the contribution of universities to the growth of high-technology clusters as well as to knowledge exchange activities more generally. However, the extent to which these activities, particularly the formation of new university-related companies, deliver benefits to particular regions and cities is imperfectly understood. As a consequence, the economic and social impact of companies originating in universities in the UK is generally under-reported by official surveys, which frequently fail to capture details of the trajectories of such companies after formation. These considerations form the context for this paper, which presents the results from a detailed study of the impact of science and technology based academic spin-offs from a cross-section of London's HEIs.

Between relevance and excellence? Research impact agenda and the production of policy knowledge

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 895-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Bandola-Gill
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Research Impact ◽  
Publicly Funded ◽  
Academic Knowledge ◽  
Traditional Research ◽  
Academic Practices ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract The recent moves towards incentivising ‘impact’ within the research funding system pose a growing challenge to academic research practices, charged with producing both scientific, and social impact. This article explores this tension by drawing on interviews with sixty-one UK academics and policymakers involved in publicly-funded knowledge exchange initiatives. The experiences of the interviewed academics point to a functional separation of academic practices into three distinct types: producing traditional research, translating research, and producing policy-oriented research. These three types of practices differ in terms of both the epistemic qualities of the produced knowledge and its legitimacy as valid academic work. Overall, the article argues that the relationship between relevance and excellence of research within the impact agenda is characterised by simultaneous contradiction and co-dependence, leading to hybridisation of academic knowledge production and expansion of the boundaries of policy expertise into the traditionally-academic spaces.

Characteristics of UK higher education institutions that disclose sustainability reports

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1279-1298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remmer Sassen ◽  
Dominik Dienes ◽  
Johanna Wedemeier
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Public Funding ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Uk Higher Education

Purpose This study aims to focus on the following research question: Which institutional characteristics are associated with sustainability reporting by UK higher education institutions? Design/methodology/approach To answer the aforementioned research question, this study uses logistic regression. Findings The results show that 17 per cent of the UK higher education institutions report on their sustainability (July 2014). In line with legitimacy and stakeholder theory, logistic regressions provide evidence that the larger the size of the institution, the higher the probability of reporting. By contrast, high public funding decreases this probability. Research limitations/implications The findings show characteristics of higher education institutions that support or hamper sustainability reporting. Overall, the findings imply a lack of institutionalisation of sustainability reporting among higher education institutions. Originality/value Although a lot of research has been done on corporate sustainability reporting, only a small number of studies have addressed the issues of sustainability reporting of higher education institutions. This study covers all sustainability reports disclosed among the 160 UK higher education institutions. It is the first study that investigates characteristics of higher education institutions that disclose a sustainability report.

scholarly journals Social Impact Archaeology: Pontefract Castle and the Gatehouse Project

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendon Wilkins
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
The Public ◽  
Evidence Framework ◽  
Standards Of Evidence ◽  
Professional Field ◽  
Collaborative Platform ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Archaeology is said to add value to development, creating a deeper sense of place, community identity as well as improving health and wellbeing. Accentuating these wider social values has been welcomed by a profession keen to broaden its public relevance and legitimacy and protect its seat at the table in modern cultural life, but how much, if at all, do the public actually benefit from developer-led archaeology? Benefits to individuals and communities from archaeology projects are often abstract, intangible and difficult to attribute, and the discipline arguably lacks a satisfactory frame of reference around which it can express and design for these additional social values. Drawing on the language of social impact investing, this article will explore how the UK-based collaborative platform, DigVentures, has addressed this challenge. It introduces a 'Theory of Change' and 'Standards of Evidence' framework to account for the impact of development-led archaeology programmes, illustrating the causal links between activity and change through the case of the Pontefract Castle Gatehouse Project. It is complemented by a short documentary film exploring the spectrum of digital and physical opportunities for participation by the public alongside a team of highly experienced professional field archaeologists, demonstrating how development-led archaeology can be designed to accomplish far more than answer a planning brief.

scholarly journals Exploring women’s perceptions of pain when breastfeeding using online forums

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Line Caes ◽  
Katie Abbott ◽  
Sinéad Currie
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Breastfeeding Duration ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Women’S Perceptions ◽  
Breastfeeding Cessation ◽  
Pain Experiences ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Despite numerous benefits, many mothers stop breastfeeding soon after birth. A common reason for this is the experience of pain or discomfort. One resource which women use to share their breastfeeding challenges and seek support are online forums. This study aimed to collect data from online forums to explore 1) usage of forums as social support for breastfeeding-related pain; 2) experiences of breastfeeding-related pain; 3) perceptions and strategies to deal with breastfeeding-related pain; and 4) the impact of pain on breastfeeding duration. Methods Data was gathered through searches of online forums based in the UK and USA: Netmums, What to Expect and Mumsnet using key terms: ‘painful breastfeeding’ and ‘sore breastfeeding’. Data extraction took place in July 2018 and included posts made between 2012 and 2018. Data included 123 posts and 193 replies, analysed using thematic analysis. Results The first theme identified was ‘variation in types of pain’, highlighting the variety of painful experiences and their descriptions. In particular, this theme reveals the large variety of different types of pain women experience at different stages throughout their breastfeeding journey, as well as the different pain characteristic they focus on in the description of their experience (i.e., location, sensory or physical aspects). Secondly, the theme ‘perceived causes and explanations for pain’ revealed how women interpret pain experiences either due to a recognised condition or behavioural cause. The third theme ‘cessation of breastfeeding related to pain’ identified. How women experience both physical and psychological struggles (e.g., guilt) related to breastfeeding cessation, with pain being a main factor in considering cessation of breastfeeding. Finally, the theme ‘shared experiences and support’ identified women’s strong need for both practical and emotional support to deal with pain. Many women look for this support through the knowledge exchange offered on the online forums. Conclusions Pain was a key reason for breastfeeding cessation, commonly associated with strong feelings of guilt. The online forums provide a unique form of social support for breastfeeding women to find ways to cope with the pain, while highlighting the urgent need for more appropriate antenatal education on realistic expectation surrounding breastfeeding.

Academic life in the impact vanguard: the view from knowledge exchange organisations

2020 ◽  
pp. 137-160
Author(s):  
Katherine E. Smith ◽  
Justyna Bandola-Gill ◽  
Nasar Meer ◽  
Ellen Stewart ◽  
Richard Watermeyer
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Translation ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Research Impact ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
Academic Life ◽  
Types Of Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Brokerage ◽  
Experimental Subjects ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

This chapter focuses on academics working in university-based groups that have been charged with, and funded to achieve, knowledge translation and research impact. These are, we suggest, academics working at the vanguard of the impact agenda, who we might consider as experimental subjects from whom we can learn. This chapter includes a summary of the types of knowledge brokerage roles and organisations that have been created in the UK and the perceived and stated rationales for these new roles and organisations, and an analysis of interview data providing insights into the perspectives of academics working within two such groups.

Doing it yourself: Coventry University Library’s streaming project

2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Gibbs
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Short Discussion ◽  
New Era ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Levels Of Use ◽  
Streaming Service ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Uk Higher Education ◽  
The Impact

This case study provides an overview of the logistical aspects of introducing a DIY streaming service, from original idea to implementation, at Coventry University. The study includes reflection on practical problems such as the structuring of file names and complying with the terms and conditions of the ERA licence. It concludes with a short discussion of the impact of the new ERA+ licence on levels of use, together with possible future developments in streaming in the UK Higher Education sector.

Suicide by jumping at beachy head in East Sussex – The impact of a suicide prevention patrol scheme

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s886-s887 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Durgahee ◽  
M. Isaac ◽  
J. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Major Public Health Issue ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Depth Interviews

IntroductionSuicide is a major public health issue. It is the leading cause of death among younger adults in the UK. Suicide by jumping is an uncommon method. About 23 people die each year by jumping from the cliffs at beachy head, Sussex. The beachy head chaplaincy established a suicide-prevention patrol at beachy head in August 2004. To date there have been no studies evaluating the impact of a suicide patrol as a prevention strategy. This study aimed to assess the impact of this suicide-prevention patrol.MethodsData from local and national official statistics was gathered to examine the overall suicide numbers and rates of suicide by jumping vs. other methods. This included an in-depth scrutiny of coroners’ data and reports from the beachy head chaplaincy.A qualitative, phenomenological approach using in-depth interviews was used to evaluate the “lived experiences” of members of the suicide-prevention patrol.ResultsThe statistics reveal unexpected and at times, conflicting, results which will be offered for discussion.The thematic analysis of the interviews reveals insights into the motivations for volunteering; how a faith-based patrol works; the physical and psycho-social impact of the work; volunteers’ stories; the centrality of God within their work and motivation.For copyright reasons full details of the analyses cannot be made available before the conference.DiscussionWe welcome an interactive discussion of the results.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals The Study of Religion in the UK in its Institutional Context

2017 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-57
Author(s):  
Kim Knott
Keyword(s):  
Public Funding ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Institutional Pressures ◽  
The Public ◽  
Institutional Structures ◽  
Institutional Contexts ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract How has the study of religion in the UK been shaped by its institutional contexts? Consideration is given to the Christian and secular foundations of universities and higher education colleges, the relationship of theology and religious studies, and the impact of institutional structures and drivers associated with teaching and research. The formation of ‘TRS’ as an instrumental and contested subject area is discussed, as is the changing curriculum. Research on religion is examined in relation to new institutional pressures and opportunities: the assessment of university research and the public funding of research. The importance of the impact agenda and capacity building are illustrated.

scholarly journals Open Badges to Encourage Class Representatives’ Reflection and Achievement-Sharing: A Case Study from Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA)

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya Lubicz-Nawrocka
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The University ◽  
Uk Higher Education ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Leadership And Change ◽  
Negotiation Problem

This case study describes how Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) worked in partnership with the University of Edinburgh’s Information Services division to implement one of the first Open Badge schemes used in the UK higher education sector. Based on student feedback, EUSA developed an effective Open Badge model to recognise and reward students’ work as Class Representatives. The paper describes EUSA’s model of badges, badge criteria and implementation, before focusing on qualitative examples of the positive impact of this pilot project for both individual students and for the Students’ Association. It provides examples of how students reflected thoughtfully about the impact of their work as Class Representatives to develop skills in negotiation, problem solving, diplomacy, leadership, and change management. EUSA’s Open Badge scheme now rewards students for sharing their achievements. In turn, students’ Open Badge blog posts have helped EUSA to gain more meaningful insights into the broad work of Class Representatives and how students benefit when they engage fully with the role.

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