In recent years, policymakers and funding agencies around the world have emphasised the importance of research that has a positive impact on society. Ireland is no exception: research funders now consider impact a fundamental aspect of almost all research programmes.

Because of this, the HEA awarded UCD funding to refine its impact-related resources and develop an online toolkit. With support from the Irish Research Council, UCD convened a national Research Impact Working Group, bringing together representatives from across Ireland’s research community, including UCC Research, to share ideas, perspectives, and existing good practice around research impact.

This toolkit is the result of these efforts, and we encourage all researchers in UCC to use it and consider impact in a meaningful way.

Funding

Funding for the toolkit was generously provided by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

Contributors

A list of all members of the national Research Impact Working Group, who helped shape the tools and resources found in this toolkit:

• Irish Research Council
  Dr Eavan O’Brien, Assistant Director (Impact & Partnerships)
  Dr Jennifer Cassidy, Programme Manager

• Irish Universities Association
  Kate Morris, Campus Engage National Coordinator

• University College Dublin
  Liam Cleere, Senior Manager for Research Analytics and Impact
  David Bennett, Research Impact Officer

• Dublin City University
  Dr Sally Smith, Director of Research

• Maynooth University
  Deirdre Clayton, Research Development Officer

• NUI Galway
  Áine Mhic Thaidhg, Research Impact Officer

• Trinity College Dublin
  Sarah Bowman, Director of Strategic Engagement & Impact Assessment, Office of the Dean of Research

• University College Cork
  Dr David O'Connell, Director of Research Support Services

• University of Limerick
  Christine Brennan, Research Strategy and Policy Manager

• Technological Higher Education Association
  Sean O'Reilly, Data Analyst

• Letterkenny Institute of Technology
  Dr Padraig Gallagher, Head of Research and Innovation

• Waterford Institute of Technology
  Dr Mark White, Vice President of Research, Innovation and Graduate Studies

• Limerick Institute of Technology
  Dr Patrick Murray, Head of Research and Technology Transfer

• Institute of Technology Sligo
  Dr John Bartlett, Head of Research

• Dundalk Institute of Technology