Section 1.6 The Impacts and Constraints of External Engagement
Motivations and Objectives for External Engagement In order to create the right incentives for academics to engage with external organisations it is important to understand their motivations. The survey therefore asked respondents who had some engagement through people-based, problem-solving and community-based activities with private, public or third sector organisations in the last three years to score a range of motives on a 5-point Likert scale - where 5 is very important and 1 is completely unimportant. Exhibit 36 shows the mean score for each motivation (blue bars) as well as the share of respondents who consider these important or very important motivations (red triangle). We can observe that the main motivations to engage with external organisations are concerned with developing the research activities of academics. This includes gaining insights in the area of their research (3.9) which is considered as important by 77% of respondents; keeping up to date with research in external organisations (3.5); and testing the practical application of their research (3.5), rated as important by 58% of respondents. Teaching objectives score slightly lower at around 3: around 49% of respondents engage to gain access to knowledge that will further their teaching.
Exhibit 36 Importance of motivations for activities with external organisations (mean score and % of respondents) Mean score 1
2
3
4
5
0
25
50
75
100
Gain insights in the area of my own research Further my institution’s outreach mission Keep up to date with research in external organisations Test the practical application of my research Gain knowledge about practical problems useful for teaching Secure access to the expertise of researchers at the external organisation Create student placement and job opportunities Secure access to specialist equipment, materials or data Secure funding for research assistants and equipment Look for business opportunities linked to my own research Source of personal income
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