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Research Matters

As I See It: Regional impact of NUI Galway

 
 

I am carrying out a study, on behalf of the University, to evaluate the impact of NUI Galway on the Region. The study has two main purposes: first, to give the university and its staff an understanding of its own importance in the region and second to inform other stakeholders (particularly politicians) of its importance.

A traditional view of the university is that it teaches students across a range of disciplines. University staff, according to this view, also carries out research, generally pursuing knowledge for knowledge sake. However, the reality is quite different in a modern university.  Although teaching is still an important function of a university, research, specifically research with economic, human or social development as the objective, is what distinguishes a university today.

Most university regional impact studies, however clearly demonstrate that in addition to graduate output, there is a significant additional spill-over to local society. The pool of knowledge in all staff at the university contributes to the betterment of the local community through the engagement of staff in a multiplicity of activities. They positively engage their skills to varying degrees with enterprise, public authorities, local communities, professional bodies, voluntary organisations, schools, etc.

While teaching and research input (and output) is normally captured through continuing assessment of disciplines, schools and research centres, the contribution of staff to the wider community is not evaluated or quantified. Thus the total effort of the university staff is systematically underestimated.

The current study of the University impact has tried, through an anonymous questionnaire to all university staff, to gain insight into this “extra-curricular” activity. So far, returns from staff have not been sufficient to make statistical inference; though it is clear that contribution is enormous, varying from individual to individual, across a wide spectrum of activity.

I would like to appeal to those who have not filled in the questionnaire to do so; it is temporarily being hosted at www.ryaninstitute.ie/education-outreach/outreach/economic-impact-study/.  It is in all our interests to get returns from as many staff as possible. I would ask you to excuse the tightness of the questionnaire and find a way of including your activities. This is not a precise scientific exercise, an estimate of what you contribute to the wider society, however little or great, is the best measure we can get. A significant combined effort in replying to the questionnaire can demonstrate the very significant contribution of staff to society beyond what is normally recorded and underrepresented as the contribution of university staff.

Author: Michael Cuddy, Professor of Economics (Emeritus)

 

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