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

2. 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

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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Thank You