Together with the School of Policy Studies (SPS) and the Division of Research, Enterprise and Innovation (DREI), PARC co-hosted a workshop on 20th June that brought together around 35 University of Bristol researchers working with arts, humanities and social science research methods on Africa-facing projects.
With a panel of experts, discussion focused on claiming, framing and evaluation of impacts by Western universities in global South contexts, particularly in light of the principles and aspirations of the Africa Charter.
The outputs will not only seed further discussion within the University, in particular the DREI impact team, but also be carried ‘upstream’ to bodies such as Research England.
The panel
The Africa Charter posits that systemic change is needed for a richer and more potent global scholarship effort and to position African scholars and institutions in their rightful place. PARC Director Professor Isabella Aboderin highlighted the implications of the Charter on impact as the locus and priorities of research shifts to the global South.
Discussion focused on what societal and collective flourishing could look like, and what changes in regulatory frameworks may be needed to achieve this – including what is valued and rewarded in research: its impact.
The Africa Charter also has importance in helping to define or rethink:
- The research environment and rigour of outputs
- The areas of impact which aren’t considered in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029
- The assumption that policy and practice change is sought solely in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) – are there alternative global agendas and logics?
We were joined virtually by Professor Ambreena Manji, Dean of International for Africa, Cardiff University, who raised questions around how we must overcome:
- The “hero narrative” and the unidirectional gaze in framing the research question
- The temporality differences between the University and the REF
Being at an early stage in the REF 2029 process, there is the potential to affect change in the process.
Dr Andrew Wray, Director of Bristol Innovations (Impact) from DREI, talked about how we could instrumentalise the REF to shape the way it measures “impact” in the future, across the sciences and with partners from other regions of the world.
During the event the PARC team was delighted to meet our new Pro-Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement Professor Michele Acuto, who has recently joined the University of Bristol. Professor Acuto will take over from Professor Agnes Nairn as the Chair of PARC’s Internal Management Board.
With thanks to Ola Drummond and the Global Lounge for hosting, and to Dr Lucy Series, SPS.
