QNRF hosts third International School on Research Impact Assessment

DOHA: Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), a member of Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D), hosted the third International School on Research Impact Assessment (ISRIA).

It brought together over 80 delegates from 10 counties to shape the understanding, planning, valorisation and dissemination of research outcomes and their impact on a local and global scale.

By hosting ISRIA, QNRF continues to support Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development’s (QF) mission to fostering a culture of research and develop Qatar’s innovation and technology capacity. Participants learnt how to assess, measure and optimise the impact of research findings, while re-shaping frameworks, tools and approaches being utilised to evaluate research outcomes. 

They were encouraged to increase their part in collaborative networks among research and development decisionmakers and stakeholders. ISRIA, with its multi-disciplinary and practical approach, offered an international dimension in the quality of its content developed by experts from leading institutions from around the world. 

Dr Abdul Sattar Al Taie, Executive Director, QNRF, said, “Enhancing participants’ skills on how to plan, implement and manage research impact assessment, how to communicate with their target audience and how to measure and optimise returns generated by investments in research, reflects the motto of the school — ‘Learning to assess research with the aim to optimise returns’.” 

Professor Jonathan Grant, Co-Founder, ISRIA, and Director, Policy Institute, King’s College, London, said, “Research Impact Assessment (RIA) is not easy and no funder has the answer, but the school’s approach of demonstrating accountability through RIA, focusing on transparency and efficiency, is a practical approach to evaluating a societal return.” 

ISRIA focuses on RIA programme management, evaluation, knowledge translation, policy and decisionmaking in areas such as research and development for government, research funding organisations, academia, not-for-profits and the health industry, among others. 

During the closing ceremony, Dr Omar Boukhris, Scientific Director of the school, announced that the fourth edition of the school will be hosted by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Melbourne, Australia, next year.

The Peninsula