A banner image with colourful triangles that states Making an Impact 2026 in a white box

Making an Impact 2026

Making an Impact is an annual programme of events led by The Academy that focuses on developing the knowledge, skills and abilities that colleagues need to effectively generate research income and increase impact. Making an Impact 2026 with run throughout 2026, culminating in three weeks of development activities from 1-19 June.

Making an Impact 2026 will align with the university strategy, Liverpool 2031, by contributing to the ongoing development of a fertile research culture and environment in which colleagues' success in research income and impact can flourish. 

Within the lens of the 2026 Framework, the key themes of Making an Impact will be: 

  • Fostering academics’ understanding of public, private and third sector engagement activities and build confidence in delivering these 
  • Developing skills in academics to build and maintain successful research partnerships 
  • Enhancing the consultancy capabilities in academics and visibility of opportunities. 

Further details will be shared, including the Making an Impact programme, in late 2025.

Follow us on LinkedIn for more information about upcoming Making an Impact activities.

Feedback from participants from Making an Impact 2025 included:

““[How to engage and influence UK Parliament] session was very interesting and gave me confidence to consider doing this in the future.”

 “The online format worked well, break-out rooms were beneficial and there was good discussion amongst researchers, there was in general a nice mix of theory and practical application of the ideas. Really enjoyed the session.”

“I found the program highly practical. I also really appreciated the interactive format of the session, especially the breakout rooms. It provided a great opportunity to engage with colleagues from different institutions. The participants shared practical tips, relevant tools, and even links to AI platforms.”

 “In-person format was perfect! Thank you to the Special Collections team at SJL who facilitated the tour. I loved the informal format and the chance to check out some of the material as well as the digitisation suite.”

 “The [Elevate your impact evaluation: Going above and beyond the evaluation form] session highly engaging and informative. The positive atmosphere throughout the session made it easy to stay focused and motivated … [the facilitator’s] ability to make complex evaluation concepts accessible and practically applicable was a highlight.”

The Making an Impact On-Demand Resource Hub

Supplementing the live programme, the Making an Impact Resource Hub contains a rich and diverse open-access resource freely available for all research staff and students to access at a time and place that suits you. The resources include: 200+ recorded sessions, 13 podcasts, 15 visual summaries, 16 keynotes, 55 workshops, 38 webinars, and 7 panel discussions covering the ‘From Liverpool to Impact’ strand in which Liverpool PhD alumni working in various sectors share their experiences and opportunities for research partnership and impact. There are also 50+ additional curated resources (including toolkits, checklists, virtual tours, TED talks) on inclusive leadership; using LinkedIn to foster research collaborations; informational interviews; making a cultural impact online; business development; collaboration and many more areas spread across four general themes according to research impact objectives:

  1. Boosting your academic research impact and knowledge exchange potential
  2. Capturing and sharing information and evidence relating to research impact
  3. Developing the reach of your research activity, interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration
  4. Contributing to a positive and inclusive research culture

Reporting

The Academy has produced an evaluation report following the end of the Making an Impact 2025 programme

Download the Making an Impact 2025 Report

Back to: Researcher Hub