Summary of the impact

This case study demonstrates how research conducted at Plymouth University on the recruitment and selection methodologies for postgraduate speciality training in medicine has impacted on the development and implementation of the recruitment process for core training and specialty training posts in medical related fields throughout the UK. The impacts take the form of a new and improved shortlisting methodology and model for selection centre recruitment at a national level. It overcomes the problems revealed with recruitment to medical training during the introduction of the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) initiative and the Medical Training Application Service (MTAS) debacle in 2007-08.

Summary of the impact

The field of medicine has become more complex and morally demanding as it faces the challenges of technological advances, changing social attitudes and financial constraints, all dramatically highlighted in the recent Francis Report. These challenges require a profession with independent judgment and a willingness to listen to, and communicate humanely with, patients. The complex skills required for this can be developed through what have become known as the `medical humanities', or the application of philosophy and other humanities to medical education.

This argument was first explored and tested in the UK by researchers at the University of Glasgow (UoG), where the key actors in the UK medical humanities movement worked together to articulate and trial humanities content to students of medicine.

The impact this can have on medical practice has been recognised by the General Medical Council, funding streams in the Wellcome Trust and other major funding bodies, the Royal Colleges and NHS units. From the pioneering work at Glasgow, there are, as of 2013, five centres of medical humanities in the UK and 24 in total worldwide, and humanities content is delivered to medical students at module or degree level in 30 of the UK's 32 medical schools.

Summary of the impact

Since its formation in 2005, the Interaction Research Studio (IRS or `the Studio') has developed distinctive practice-based research into new interactional possibilities afforded by digital technologies. Over the course of eight externally-funded projects the Studio has worked on during this time, it has made methodological and conceptual contributions in the course of producing exemplary research products.

• Research products — the Studio develops highly-finished research products that serve as landmarks of new interaction paradigms, application domains, and product genres.
• Methodological — methods such as Cultural Probes have travelled widely to influence commercial research in Design, HCI, contextual research and related fields.
• Conceptual — the Studio's promotion of playful engagement, ambiguity and interpretive flexibility, both methodologically and in the products it develops, has helped influence high-tech industries to investigate non-utilitarian values and approaches.