Edited by Nick Braae

One major trend in the sphere of publically-funded research is the increasing need to identify, measure, and articulate the so-called ‘impact’ of research. In the commissioned report by the 2019 PBRF Review Panel, the authors noted ‘[the] persistent concerns about the ability of peer review panels to assess the quality of research engagement and impact [...] and the contributions that many researchers make to a vibrant research environment’ and suggested that their recommended changes would ‘place more value on the impact of research’ and ‘provide a more obvious pathway for staff to have the impact of their research recognised’.

For us as creative-practice researchers, it is less clear, but potentially also more open, as to how we might frame and understand the same notion in our respective fields. As practitioners and academics, our research is frequently public-facing; intimately connected with teaching strategies; and respondent to the societal needs, concerns and issues around us; yet there remains work to be done in terms of directly and insightfully communicating and documenting the multifaceted ways in which our research may be impactful.

Through the course of this symposium, we will hear from different voices, each sharing their perspective on this subject, with a view towards building a bigger collective picture of what impact and impact frameworks look like in this area. At the conclusion of this symposium, there will be opportunities for disciplinary ‘break out’ spaces for those across the Te Pūkenga network to meet and have an open discussion about their courses and curricula. As we shift closer to one of the most significant ‘impacts’ of recent educational change – course unification across Te Pūkenga – it seems more pertinent than ever to facilitate conversation amongst those ‘on the ground’. There will also be opportunities to collate the findings from presenters with the aim of establishing more substantive models and conceptions of the relationship between creative practice research and its impact/s, broadly conceived.