Available to Advance HE Members only
Pro Vice-Chancellors and research leaders joined us to share proven strategies for building impact-driven research cultures. This interactive online event revealed the strategic thinking behind successful initiatives like Thrive and Reimagining Leadership, addressing challenges from researcher isolation to cross-sector collaboration.
Attendees left with practical approaches and connections to peers tackling similar challenges, and received the session outputs to help implement these practices at their institution, all designed to enhance research culture beyond REF 2029 requirements.
Following the event, attendees received a comprehensive Guide to Creating Your Impact-Forward Research Culture, drawing on the presentations, discussions and collective expertise shared throughout the session. This practical resource was designed to support institutions in implementing key insights and approaches directly within their own research environments.
Are you interested?
Connecting Research Culture and Impact event was held on 15 April.
You can use the link below to register your interest and stay informed about project outputs.
Are You Facing These Research Culture Challenges?
The higher education landscape is evolving rapidly, bringing complex challenges around leadership, legislation, and equity. Many institutions struggle with:
- Researcher isolation and perceived lack of support in managing people and projects
- Existing practices that act as barriers to innovation and limit research impact
- Traditional leadership models that don't support the collaborative approaches needed for thriving research cultures
- Pressure to demonstrate impact across research outputs and increase cross-sector collaborations
- Team dynamics that need improvement to enhance institutional research culture
With REF 2029 on the horizon and growing awareness among academics and funders about the importance of positive research culture, the time to act is now.
What You'll Gain
Pro Vice-Chancellors and research leaders from across the sector came together for an interactive online event that showcased real initiatives driving impact and transforming research cultures.
- Build understanding of what constitutes a thriving research culture and its essential components
- Create shared guidelines to work towards your desired research culture
- Think beyond REF about the wider benefits of positive research culture
- Connect with peers facing similar challenges and share experiences
- Access practical frameworks for improving team dynamics and reducing researcher isolation
- Receive an implementation guide to help translate insights into action at your institution
What's Included
Interactive Online Event - An engaging session featuring practical approaches to enhancing research culture, with time for discussion and questions from participants.
Post-Event Implementation Guide - Following the event, you'll receive a comprehensive "Guide to Creating Your Impact-Forward Research Culture" based on the presentations, discussions, and collective expertise shared during the session.
Who Should Attend
This event is designed for:
- Pro Vice-Chancellors for Research
- Deans of Research
- Research Managers
- Principal Investigators
- Those involved in shaping institutional research culture
Why Attend?
Many initiatives have been linking collaborative research practices with impact. This event showcases how these projects influence research culture and the research ecosystem as a whole. We recognise the importance of creating impact, driving innovation, and aligning research outcomes with wider strategic goals.
You'll leave with actionable approaches to strengthen your academic reputation, improve talent retention, and increase the impact of your research outputs—all while building a research culture that goes beyond REF compliance.
This event gives those leading research access to real examples from institutions that have successfully enhanced their research environments, helping you understand what truly drives a thriving research culture beyond compliance and translates into impactful research outputs.Ireen Litvak-Zur – Senior Consultant, Leadership & Management – Advance HE
Featured Speakers and Initiatives
On 15 April 2026, 14:00 - 16:00 BST, we were joined by an inspiring line-up of institutions that have successfully enhanced their research environments:
Prof. Georgina Enfield, Liverpool University
Presenting Thrive
Dr. Emma Francis, UCL
Presenting Collaborative Research Leadership Programme
Prof. Candy Rowe, Newcastle University
Presenting Reimagining Leadership
Each speaker will share the strategic thinking driving their work and the short- and long-term impact on research culture and the broader research ecosystem.
Speakers
Candy Rowe
Professor of Animal Behaviour and Cognition, Dean of Research Culture and Strategy
,
Newcastle University
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