Impact and Engagement

“What do you want your research to do?”

This is a question that continues to engage, drive, and inspire members of the School of English. Our researchers produce high-quality, world-leading literature-, language-, and practice-based research that benefits a diverse range of real-world contexts and communities and has a tangible value that reaches far beyond academia. Through developing long-standing relationships and collaborations with partners in a variety of different sectors—including education, heritage, and the creative industry—our research has had a transformative effect on the local, national, and international community.

Our researchers have a strong record of receiving external funding from the AHRC, Leverhulme Trust, Heritage Lottery Fund, and Wellcome Trust to support world-leading research projects involving extended collaborations with partners and beneficiaries from around the globe.

“Research impact is the provable effects (benefits) of research in the ‘real world.’” (Julie Bayley)

The wide-ranging real-world impact achieved through the School’s innovative and creative research was recognised in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, and was one of the reasons that we were ranked fourth nationally in the exercise.

Our current research impact is organised under five interconnected themes: Education, Heritage and Archives, Medical Humanities, Practice Research, and Environment.

Education

Our research shapes classroom practice, teacher education, policy, and public views — in collaboration with educators across the UK and worldwide