Measuring Research Engagement and Impact in the Mathematical Sciences Professor Tim Marchant Dean of Research | University of Wollongong President AustMS

My Experiences Director Mathematics and Industry Study Group 2007-2009 Led UOW’s ERA submissions in 2012 and 2015 Chair of a rankings advisory committee at UOW

Contents Definitions and motivation Key developments Summary of current assessments, ERA & rankings Engagement in the Mathematical Sciences Summary

Definitions and Motivation Governments Innovation Agenda; engagement and impact assessment will examine how universities translate research into economic, social and other benefits and incentivise greater collaboration between universities, industry and other end-users of research Research impact is the demonstrable contribution that research makes to the economy, society, culture, national security, public policy or services, health, the environment, quality of life, beyond contributions to academia (ARC) Research engagement is the interaction between researchers and research organisations and their larger communities/industries for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge, understanding and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity (ATSE)

Key Developments Changed metrics for university research block grants; based on HERDC income and HDR completions ARC engagement and Impact Assessment consultation paper Research engagement and Impact Assessment of university research to be held parallel with ERA 2018 Pilot assessment of research engagement and impact in 2017 $28million for AMSI to expand PhD Internships

Current Research Assessments ERA Assesses quality of research at discipline and sub-discipline levels Citation analysis, research income, peer review QS Assesses quality of research, teaching and engagement Citation analysis, academic and employer surveys Employer survey 10% THE Similar to QS but no employer survey and includes research income Industry income 2.5% ARWU Assesses research quality Publications, prize winners and fellows

National - ERA is an extremely robust research assessment exercise, held every 3 years University rankings are less robust but international in scope and held every year No direct funding associated with ERA as SRE is being closed - International student fee income heavily dependant on rankings - Engagement and impact assessment is very important but rankings is the main game

How to measure impact and engagement ATSE metrics based on industry relevant HERDC funding, excludes most Cat 1. REF UK case studies for research impact assessment THE use research income, QS impact of graduates on employers

Engagement in the Mathematical Sciences Pure mathematics does not lend itself to industry and community engagement in the same way applied mathematics, statistics and engineering does UK REF 2014 has online database impact case studies. Out of 404 mathematics case studies, 29 are in Pure and 1 in Mathematical Physics Most Pure Mathematics case studies are really Applied Mathematics. Some are based on the outreach studies of well known individuals and a few on online resources assessable to the public

Major mathematics competitions could be relevant case studies; UNSW School Mathematics Competition, Australian Mathematics Competition Mathematics in Industry Study Group PhD students Internships. Government is funding expansion of AMSI Intern Measure external interactions of PhD students; industry scholarships and supervisors Track research graduates and their contributions to employers

Summary Research excellence is the main game for universities, but industry engagement is very important too Track and measure your school’s current involvement with industry Get involved with expanded ASMI Intern Follow / track your graduates in their careers

Thank You