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

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