Research & Innovation Services

How do I achieve impact?

There is no way to guarantee that your research will have impact, no matter its quality, and many factors are beyond your control. However, there are strategies you can develop to maximise the potential for your research to make a difference.

Research impact often involves multiple pathways, requires effort, takes time to materialise, and depends on external factors and people. While there are lots of reasons why working towards research impact matters and has value for you and the University, it is useful to set realistic expectations around the change your research will bring and the effort it may take. 

Tips for being impactful with your research

• Have a vision: Clearly define the problem you want your research to address and what a solution can look like. 
• Build your academic network: Connect with those working towards similar goals. Reach out to people in your School, and who you think are impactful in your field – what can you learn from them? 
• Utilise the University’s resources: Reach out to professionals who specialise in developing and implementing strategies for impact. Start with your College Impact team if you need guidance. Find contact details here.  
• Understand your stakeholders: Who has the power to make the changes you want to see? Who shares your goals, and who has competing objectives? 
• Build your network outside academia: Get to know people, organisations, or business in relevant sectors who have similar goals. How can you learn from and support each other? 
• Keep learning: Continuously monitor and evaluate your plans, activities, outcomes, and any changes to the context you work in. Adapt your strategies based on what you learn. 
• Be passionate and patient: The journey towards impact can be long. The more you care about the work you do, the more likely you are to remain motivated even if it’s slow going. 

Pathways for impact and support available at University of Glasgow

All four Colleges and the central Research Services Directorate offer expertise in developing and implementing research impact strategies. Visit Training and Support for an overview of what is on offer, or explore specific pathways below.

Knowledge Transfer

Sharing your research can be a first step towards impact. Think about ways to communicate your findings, particularly to audiences beyond academia.

Share your research

Working with the media

Knowledge Exchange

Unlike knowledge transfer, knowledge exchange takes place in collaboration with research users. Both sides learn from each other, ensuring your research is useful and making it easier to track its impact.

Knowledge Exchange

Public Engagement

The Public Engagement team supports researchers in engaging with the wider community for mutual benefit. Their webpages offer resources, ideas, and opportunities to help you engage with people locally, nationally, or globally.

Public Engagement

Intellectual Property and Commercialisation

The University supports innovation and enterprise through various initiatives, providing resources to help staff realise economic impact.

Intellectual Property and Commercialisation

Funding

Funding can be key to developing research into impactful action. Explore internal and external funding opportunities that encourage and facilitate impact.