Public Engagement in Europe
15 July 2012Karin Larsdotter
Background
• Swedish government launched a formal investigation in 2011
• Research quality as a basis for allocating resources to universities
• Part of research quality are public engagement activities
• VA was asked to suggest PE indicators
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Public Engagement initiatives
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Institution Mission statement
NationalAwards Indicators
UK
Denmark
Norway
Germany
Switzerland
Sweden
Proposed indicators
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Institution
Mission stateme
nt
National
Awards
Indicators
UK
Denmark
Norway
Germany
Switzerland
Sweden
P
E
ac
tiv
iti
es
No. of…
• Popular science publications
• Lectures to the public
• Participations in TV/radio shows
• Open houses
• Participation science cafes, science fest., researchers’ nights
• Visits to external organisations
• Invited guest lectures from ext. org.
• Applied research projects collaborating with ext. org.
• Research projects collaborating with ext. org.
• PhD and master theses collaborating with ext. org.
• Faculty members having a temporary position at ext. org.
• Externals having a temporary position at univ. (adjunct prof.)
• Publications authored with externals
Level 1
Level 2
Shortcomings of PE indicators
• Focus on quantity• Indicators measure only what asked for
and measurable• Data not available or hard to obtain• Bias to those universities whose intrinsic
focus is external relationships (business or engineering schools)
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Holistic approach for culture change
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Monitor and Reward
Mission Statement
Role Models
Public Engagement Award
Karin Larsdotter
www.v-a.sewww.v-a.se/blogg
twitter/FB: vetenskapoallm
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