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Research by Martin & Griffiths has had an impact on public and professional understanding of donor-recipient relationships and neo-colonial power structures in global education partnerships and has fostered understanding of global partnerships and study visits as sites for intercultural, transformative learning. Specifically, it has had impact by:
This case study focuses on the impact of a significant body of empirical, evidence-based research on managing electronic records (ERM) which involved global participation. The impact relates primarily to the behaviour change of information and records professionals in terms of their practice (e.g. strategic planning, service delivery, advice, and education), ways of thinking/decision-making, and their engagement with and/or conduct of research. It is both incremental and transformative in nature. The beneficiaries are practitioners in the UK and internationally. Specific examples are the Chief of Archives and Records Management, United Nations, and those receiving training in six countries.
The research described below has impacted on policy and practice relating to Personal Development Planning (PDP) - the structured and supported process by which learners reflect upon their own development and plan their future development. The impact has primarily been on the UK Higher Education (HE) sector, but has also extended beyond the UK and into other types of organisation (e.g. graduate recruitment networks). More specifically, the research has: shaped the guidance offered to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) on implementing and developing PDP policies and processes for students; enhanced the practice of PDP practitioners; stimulated debate among these practitioners; and informed the development of resources for these practitioners. This has had an overarching positive effect on learner development in educational settings and beyond.
This case study outlines how our research has improved intercultural communication for a wide range of beneficiaries in Norwich, Norfolk and the East of England. The impact it describes is threefold. We have changed practice, perceptions, and values around issues of intercultural understanding in an increasingly globalised context. Beneficiaries are local government (Norwich City Council), businesses (Norwich City Football Club), service providers in sensitive domains (law enforcement agencies, legal interpreters), and the general public. The impact is thus on practice and policy in the region, but also, importantly, on public attitudes and cultural assumptions, exemplified by the testimonial from the Head of Equality and Diversity at Norfolk Constabulary.
`Visitor experience' is a familiar notion within the gallery and museum sector, as institutions strive to make their collections accessible and enriching to a wide audience. Although UK visitors are often well-served, international visitors are rarely given specific consideration. Information is generally not as extensive as that in English, and quality is usually inferior even though UK museums and galleries receive more international visitors than ever, and are aware of the need for improvement. The research, carried out with a range of UK cultural institutions, investigated the needs and expectations of international visitors and its findings led to more awareness of these in the sector and to the development of culturally-informed and audience-targeted materials to meet these requirements.
In 1999 Ann Macintosh joined Edinburgh Napier University to establish the International Teledemocracy Centre (ITC). The centre has been very successful in delivering a wide range of services that go beyond the early vision of teledemocracy to encompass many novel forms of e-participation including e-petitioning and extensive youth participation. The centre has attracted significant funding from both UK and European sources to support research that has led to the deployment of e-participation by a number of governing bodies across Europe and led to significant participation of people in the democratic process. In particular the e-Petitioner system developed from the original ITC research and now exploited by the organisation public-i has proved highly popular and very effective with a large number of local authorities and other organisations.
In a drive to improve efficiency and to increase user participation, local authorities have been set eGovernment targets and priorities by central Government. However, limited resources, conflicting priorities and internal political pressure have resulted in a lack of focus when it comes to implementing such changes and progress towards achieving e-Government has a) been slower than expected and b) had less impact than anticipated.
Research undertaken at Brunel broadened knowledge of e-Government and delivered these benefits:
The research created a body of knowledge that enabled delivery of novel and effective change and is contributing to making the UK a world leader on e-Government.
The medieval seals projects have enabled substantial non-academic audiences to engage more effectively with and appreciate more fully the cultural heritage of Britain. There is now a deeper understanding among schoolchildren and adult interest groups (e.g. local history societies) of the importance of seals in medieval culture and their role in establishing identities. The projects have also alerted heritage professionals to the significance of seals as a heritage asset, and developed their skills in preserving and presenting this undervalued resource. In attracting visitors to Wales and the Marches through exhibitions and outreach events the projects have delivered an economic return.
Professor Christopher Bannerman conceived this large-scale project as an extension of the ResCen mission to connect academia more intimately with the arts profession. The project promotes international communication and understanding between the UK, China and Taiwan linking Middlesex University with the Beijing Dance Academy (BDA), China National Academy for Arts Research (CNAAR) and Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA), amongst others. Through collaborative dance-making between choreographers and dancers from these countries, artists exchange perspectives and artistic and cultural paradigms, and present work to international audiences. In China and Taiwan, this develops platforms for experimenting with European artistic methods, and in the UK, it raises the profile of East Asian dance, art and culture, where these endeavours have been under-represented. Through online forums, discussions, seminars and conferences, the project opens dialogue about encounters with, and understandings of, the other. The project achieves reach and significance in conversation with policy-makers and producers in three sectors beyond HE: arts professional practice, cultural policy, and civil society. At its first stage the project was named Danscross, evolving into Artscross as further partners were involved. The project has taken the form of a series of intensive workshop/performance periods including discussion groups, lectures and symposia, linked by ongoing communication and exchange. Danscross 2009 and ArtsCross 2012 took place in Beijing, and ArtsCross 2011 and 2013 in Taipei and London respectively. See an overview published in Arts Professional (Bannerman 2013): http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/268/article/bringing-it-all-back-home.
Building Information Management (BIM) involves the creation and use of digital information about built assets. Mandated by UK and other governments because of its potential to reduce waste and optimise efficiency, its successful exploitation requires changes in construction technology and process. This research has had a transformational impact on both. Our technical research forms the basis of the National Library of BIM objects, as well as technological solutions and product developments for many organisations. Our work with UK and overseas governments has shaped industry's uptake of BIM. We have founded a centre of excellence to introduce BIM to practitioners and organisations, and created a commercial joint-venture consultancy company.