Impact case study database

The research has led to the implementation of sustainable transport measures and changes in public transport policy in six European cities: Alba Iulia, Romania (S1), Kalamaria, Greece (S2), Turin, Italy (S3), Valencia, Spain (S4), Coventry (S5) and the West Midlands region, UK (S6). Benefits have been realised through (1) implementation of cleaner and safer public transport solutions; (2) new processes and policies within cities to increase sustainable transport measures; (3) increased LA capacity in sustainable mobility planning; (4) improved inclusion and representation in transport planning.

Implementation of cleaner and safer public transport solutions

Woodcock and Nienaber’s research has accelerated sustainable transport planning and the implementation of new technology to improve safety. In Kalamaria, the research has provided a process and tools (G2) to help implementation of solar-powered, smart pedestrian crossings near four schools leading to a reduction in accidents and increased awareness of speed and sustainability issues amongst drivers (S2). An intelligent parking scheme has also been agreed for the centre of Kalamaria (due end 2021) to reduce pollution and congestion:

“Initially 50 spaces were agreed, but the arguments we were able to present (through increased understanding brought about by the SUITS capacity building programme) along with our research findings helped us influence perceptions within the municipality and persuaded them to expand the plan to accommodate 150 spaces”. (S2)

New processes and policies within cities to increase sustainable transport measures

Application of innovative financing and procurement processes (G2; R5) has increased the capacity of cities to finance and implement sustainable transport measures (S1, S3, S5-6). In Alba Iulia, this enabled procurement of cleaner vehicles equipped to monitor pollutants:

“Alba Iulia will be one of the first cities in Romania with electric buses in 2022. Through an innovative public tender with the Ministry of Development, the city has procured 15 new buses installed with air quality monitors, enabling the monitoring of pollutants in the city” (S1).

Through innovative procurement (R5), Turin has implemented sustainable freight delivery, with incentives introduced for the acquisition of clean vehicles. As a result, freight operators have experienced a 20% increase in productivity, with a 90% reduction of common air pollutant emissions (S3). This increase in transport operator productivity has enabled the municipality to demonstrate to other operators and stakeholders the value of investing in technologies with zero emissions.

Implementation of the research (R4-5) through a new organisational change process has optimised trust and skill-sharing within, and between LAs, and influenced transport policy (S1, S3-7):

“The biggest impact was adopting Professors Woodcock and Nienaber’s approaches to organisational change and trust. Increasingly, we have adopted a ‘bottom-up approach’ where the management listen to employees and there is daily contact with citizens and the wider society and transport sector.” (S4)

The research (G1, G2) has directed the refresh of the Statutory Transport Plan for the West Midlands (S6) and helped shape Valencia’s people-centric and sustainable approach outlined in their new Mobility Regulation and associated documentation: ‘ Towards a (+) sustainable mobility in València. Policies and objectives in the area of mobility and public space of the City Council of València. ’ (S4).

Increased LA capacity in sustainable mobility planning

Application of Woodcock’s research (G1-3), has increased knowledge and developed capacity in citizen engagement, and the use of data informed approaches to planning, implementing and assessing sustainable mobility measures (S1, S2, S4-7):

“Employing a data driven approach and the METPEX measures developed by Professor Woodcock, has enabled an understanding of community diversity in Coventry in respect to public transport. Following SUITS guidelines, there has been wide consultation with vulnerable road users, which has led to a more effective implementation for the new e-Scooter and smart crossings schemes.” (S5)

The use of mobility data (R2, R3) has enabled cities to demonstrate progress against their sustainability plans, gain recognition, benefit from the award of new related projects (S1, S2, S6), and grow internal LA capacity (e.g. S2, S6):

“Professor Woodcock’s focus on intelligent mobility and the METPEX measurement instruments … have informed our approach to data usage and enabled the measurement of public satisfaction with transport safety and security and public transport. Adopting these principles, TfWM has established the Data Insight Service to collect a raft of data to inform transport decision-making (S6).

Improved inclusion and representation in transport planning.

New approaches to improve the inclusion of marginalised groups in transport planning have been embraced (G1-3). Woodcock’s inclusive and participatory approaches to strategy development and implementation have been embraced by the LAs is each of the 6 cities (S2-8):

“Two sets of lights have been installed in areas selected following consultation with people who are impaired” (S2).

Impact is clear in the city of Alba Iulia, where a change in thinking and policy is evident in the adoption of the’ European Charter for Equality of Women & Men in Local Life’ in November 2020 (S8). The charter aims to balance participation of women and men in political, social and public decision-making and was promoted and sustained by the Romanian Hub of the TInnGO project (R6, G3).

1. Impact on Individuals with Lived Experience of Homelessness

Luvera has enhanced the quality of life of participants by developing and encouraging artistic and social skills through participatory research practices (R1, R2). Collaborator Gerald Mclaverty states:

“My own perceptions of homelessness have changed as a result of working with Anthony. It’s a soul-destroying position to be in, but my work on FAQ makes me feel I’m making a contribution. It gives me a purpose and a real sense of achievement. I have spoken at events at the Houses of Parliament and the Tate Modern…. The sense of achievement from being part of that work and those events is life-changing.” (S1)

Increased confidence has led to Gerald taking up a voluntary retail position, his first employment role in a significant period. Hugh Morley comments:

“There is no doubt in my mind that the advice, support and encouragement I have received from Anthony during our collaboration has improved my life. Anthony has brought out untapped potential in me and our work has given my life profound meaning.” (S1)

Hugh is currently working with Luvera on a photographic book entitled ‘ At Home in the Universe’, evidencing how the work has inspired and supported new forms of artistic expression in individuals who previously did not have access.

2. Impact on Public Understanding

The research has enhanced public understanding of the lived experience of homelessness. It has been exhibited to international audiences in world-renowned galleries. FAQ (R2) at the Tate Exchange attracted 5,012 people, 49% of the whole gallery figure that week, and a 10% lift over the same week in previous years (S2). Evaluation of the event (S3) demonstrates impact on public perceptions, through a ‘dwell time’ (time/display) of 2 minutes plus (national average: 1 minute) and indicative vox pop comments:

*“The shock of understanding what councils aren’t doing to help. 92% of councils haven’t even responded to questions about basic human needs…profound, touching, and upsetting.” (S3)

The show reached a wider audience through BBC Radio Merseyside, The Big Issue, and *Museums Journal (*45,000 readers and 223,000 monthly online views), as well as being archived on the Tate website (circa 2m hits/week).

Assembly and FAQ (R1, R2) reached circa 210,000 people, as well as a number of influential speakers through presentation at the Gallery at Foyles, London, (S4, S6). During the 2 month exhibition, curators Futurecity (S5), shared the work with 10,000 Mailer subscribers and 4,000 Instagram followers. Sharing with their 6,500 Twitter followers, saw 1,000 visits, 1.5% increase in followers, 192 mentions, and 151.6K impressions. The People’s Republic of Stokes Croft exhibition (S7) saw visitor numbers of circa 650 and coverage in The Independent and BBC online (S4).

As a result of the research, during 2020, Luvera worked with journalist Robert Wright on an article about homelessness and the coronavirus crisis: ‘ *The lockdown has transformed life for the homeless – but what happens now?*’ (Financial Times 24 June 2020). The inclusion of assisted self-portraits highlighted the challenges facing people experiencing homelessness in London, and those working for homelessness charities and grassroots organisations to provide services through the pandemic (S8).

3. Impact on Policymakers

Impact at UK government level, is evidenced through Luvera and Mclaverty’s presentation of FAQ to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ending Homelessness on 25 June 2019 hosted by Chair, Neil Coyle MP. Islington Borough Council (S6), confirmed policy debate within the Council was stimulated by the work (R1, R2), leading to enhanced communications between disparate Council groups:

“As a result of the Taking Place event, I am aware of support groups relating to homelessness, and groups advocating social/council housing. There is synergy within the objectives of both groups but to date, little collaboration. I will bring these two groups together to focus actions and make better use of Council resources.” (S6)

Dissemination of FAQ (R2) across Exeter City Council led to discussions between cabinet members, and a realisation that Council practices must be more coherent:

“Anthony’s work has significantly changed Council perceptions of the needs of those experiencing homelessness in the City….. Anthony’s work has made us acknowledge that a more coherent strategy for support provision is required.” (S6)

The MoH (S3) and People’s Republic of Stokes Croft indicate their campaign communication with LAs has been influenced with FAQ (R2) providing “ investigatory expertise” and a valuable dataset:

“…our communications with Bristol Council around homelessness have been enhanced. We now have real-world data to authenticate what we are saying.” (S7)

4. Impact on Practitioners and Galleries

Luvera’s research has altered practitioner approaches to commissioning, curating, and exhibiting work (S7). Research with individuals from marginalised backgrounds (R1, R2) has informed his contribution and oversight as Chair of the Education Committee for The Royal Photographic Society:

“A strategic decision was taken to place more emphasis on socially-engaged photography, reflecting Anthony’s impact on the Society.” (S7)

The Curator for Schools & Young People at The Photographer’s Gallery assisted Luvera on Assembly and FAQ (R1, R2) and now implements a successful socially-engaged approach herself, having received funding for a further 3 years of operation (circa £120k):

“The robustness of Anthony’s approach, combined with its inclusive working practices, directly influenced how I work and have been implemented at TPG through workshop delivery and outreach activities.” (S7)

Luvera has shared his work widely (R1, R2, R4) influencing artists in Argentina, Belgium, Latvia, Norway and USA: “It helped me ‘find my voice’ in terms of describing socially-engaged work in funding applications”. (S7)

Documented changes to practice are also evidenced through Luvera’s work with GRAIN, including ‘ Photography for Whom’ (R3) and the annual symposium ‘ The State of Photography’, (90+ attendees from across the UK). The Director of Projects at GRAIN (S9), provides excerpts from the new business plan evidencing policy change directly influenced by Luvera:

“We rewrote our business plan as part of our relationship with Arts Council England. Socially-engaged work is now at the core of the plan and I would be comfortable in saying that is primarily due to the work we have done with Anthony.…. the work is pioneering and important for our current times.” (S9)

The international impact on the practices of beneficiaries such as educational game designers, digital technology industry, and non-expert audiences are: 1) impact on game production with an increased rigour in the design and development approach, 2) economic impact from the improved capacity and turnover of start-up, small, and medium businesses, and 3) impact on practitioners through the upskilling of teachers in international, marginalised communities to co-design and co-create game-based learning resources.

1. Impact on game production through increased scientific and pedagogical rigour of game design methodology

The LM-GM model (R1) was used by researchers internationally, to enhance the rigour of educational game design. In 2015 researchers from Ulster University and Worcester University (S1) adopted the LM-GM model (R1) to inform the design of ‘Circuit Warz’, a game for teaching electrical engineering principles to A-level and first-year undergraduate students. The use of the LM-GM model (R1) enabled the researchers to map the pedagogical elements of Circuit Warz with the game elements of the model, leading to the global release of Circuit Warz. Circuit Warz is now published for PC/VR platforms on gaming websites (including STEAM and Itch) with over 6,000 downloads worldwide to date. Circuit Warz won best overall game at the prestigious 4^th International Game Competition at the European Conference of Game-Based Learning in Glasgow, Oct 2016 (S1), with the game being praised for good aesthetics and challenging learning puzzles. Circuit Warz has also been translated into Portuguese as a teaching aid for students at the Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil (S1, S2). Researchers at UFSC used the LM-GM model to develop a new photovoltaic systems game that was tested with 18 students through 30 game sessions (S2). 94% of the students agreed or strongly agreed that the game had been useful for establishing their knowledge of photovoltaic systems.

1. Impact on economic growth and innovation by stimulating start-ups/SMEs in Europe

Arnab used the research outcomes of R1 to R5 to develop European-wide, industry standards for game applications through the Beaconing project (G2). The project led to seven European start-ups/SMEs expanding job creation, turnover, spin-off products, and recognition (S3, S4). Geomotion Games (Spain) was a one-person start-up, who since being involved with the project employed four additional people and significantly increased their turnover (from €7 thousand to €40 thousand in 2019). Informed by the research outcomes in Beaconing (R6), Geomotion has also released a spin-off product, PlayVisit, a geolocation game authoring tool (Monthly Recurring Revenue of €1,250) (S5). PlayVisit has been used by the municipal authority in La Ramblas, Barcelona, to develop a location-based retail experience that attracted 700 participants into the area, and expanded the customer base of participating retailers (S5, R6). In January 2020, the learning approach developed by the Beaconing project won the Gamification Award for Software 2019, demonstrating the recognition of its influence at an industrial level (A2).

1. Impact on practitioners through the upskilling of educators in the co-creation of game-based learning resources that are empathic to the needs of marginalised communities internationally

The game design methodology from R1, R2, R3, R6 and G3, has been adapted in Malaysia through the CreativeCulture project (G4, S6). The project provided over 600 teachers and students from rural schools in Borneo with access to game-based learning techniques and practices (R6, S6). Participating teachers developed over 20 game-based learning resources; co-produced practical game templates and guidelines; and created a set of playing cards for teaching game design (S6, S7, R6). The project also enabled educators at UNIMAS to embed Arnab’s game design methodology (R1-3, R6, G3) in the Masters Programme in Learning Sciences and establish the first Gamification Centre in Malaysia (S6). The Centre provides teachers with a space to practice game-based learning methods in schools in Borneo, to enable the techniques to be replicated in their own schools (S6). CreativeCulture generated press coverage in Malaysia, which in turn led to the Department of Education collaborating with Arnab and UNIMAS upon the CreativeCulture 4.0 project (G5). The project involves training 400 teachers in game-based learning methods by the end of 2021 (S6). The success of CreativeCulture led to the development of the ACES project (G6). The ACES project is rolling-out Arnab’s transdisciplinary, game-based learning approach across education settings in Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia, and help these countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4: ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’. In January 2020, the GameChangers initiative (G3) and the adaptation of the project methodology in the CreativeCulture project (G6), was recognised for its international impact by winning the Gamification Award for Education and Learning 2019 (A1). Arnab’s game-based learning methodology (R1-6, G1-6) has also been included as a key resource for game-based learning by the EU School Education Gateway (S8).

1. Shaping UK Higher Education OA policy debate

In 2016, Adema became a member of the Universities UK OA Monographs working group as a result of her research for R1 and at the recommendation of Jisc. This working group was established to support and monitor progress towards OA publishing for books. R1 and R3 were important to several of the working group’s policy reports (S1). In 2018, UKRI announced a review of its OA policies, to incorporate monographs, book chapters, and edited collections into its policy requirements. R1 and R3 and the work of the UUK OA Monograph Group informed UKRI’s draft OA policy position, outlined in its consultation document (S2). Specifically, as a UKRI Senior Policy Advisor confirms (S1), R1 informed UKRI’s recognition of the broad range of business models within humanities publishing and ‘the importance of maintaining and encouraging a diverse publishing ecology which includes commercial publishers and new university presses, as well as scholar-led initiatives’ (S1). They estimate the monographs element of the policy to impact around 500 books published yearly. S2 will also be submitted as evidence to inform the development of the OA policy for research outputs submitted to the UK-wide research assessment after REF 2021.

UKRI’s Senior Policy Advisor invited Adema, Hall, and the ScholarLed consortium to submit a business case (informed by R1) to the Research England Development Fund (G1). The Community-led Open Publications Infrastructures for Monographs (COPIM) project was awarded £3M in combined co-funding with the charitable organisation Arcadia (G2). The UKRI Consultation (S2) referenced COPIM, and as S1 indicates, its findings are already, and will continue to ‘ inform policy implementation for both the UKRI OA policy and the OA policy for the national research assessment exercise after REF 2021’.

1. Changing practices within the academic publishing industry by formulating new models of open scholar-led publishing

R4 describes Hall’s launch of Open Humanities Press (OHP). In 2015, Adema and Hall organised the Radical Open Access Conference, identifying and bringing together similar scholar-led presses, many set up inspired by OHP and Hall’s research, which helped Meson Press ‘ grow its reputation internationally’, where Mattering Press adapted Hall’s publishing model to ‘become a leading book publisher in the field of STS’ (S3-4). Following the conference, extending from Hall’s collective scholar-led publishing model (R4), the Radical Open Access Collective (ROAC) was formed, a membership organisation that enabled the now 70+ scholar-led projects to scale up from working individually, providing them with the collective voice, resources, and expertise to support their work (described in R2). The mutual reliance and cooperation the ROAC provides is demonstrated by its members, with Internet Policy Review’s Managing Editor stating: ‘Our experience [of the ROAC] has been excellent. [It] is pushing the agenda of uncompromising open access (…). We’re looking forward to collaborating more with the other members of the collective into the future’ (S5).

R1 resulted in significant conceptual impact in the OA publishing field, with presses increasingly starting to self-identify as academic- or scholar-led (S6), and funders acknowledging R1 as a key publishing model (S1-2). Adema and Hall were co-founders of the ScholarLed consortium of presses, which is further developing alternative business models and infrastructures for OA books through the COPIM project (G1-2).

1. Changing practices within the creative industries by formulating new models and forms of (hybrid) publishing

In R4 Hall describes OHP’s ‘Living Books about Life’ series, which repurposed existing OA content via openly editable wiki-books. This experiment impacted the publishing practices of authors and presses, resulting in 3 international adaptations (S7). R4 inspired Mattering Press to conduct experiments with publishing formats (S3), and Meson Press to conduct ‘alternative, open forms of peer reviews’ (S4). Shaw’s ‘open and hybrid publishing’ model (R5) has benefitted both photographers and photography organisations. The Photographer’s Gallery applied R5 to revision of their gallery space and to launch two interrelated projects: #FolioFriday and The Open Door programme. Through these initiatives the Gallery brought ‘approximately 8,000 individual visitors into direct conversations with photographers’ and helped ‘ support and amplify practice of over 400 photographers and photographic organisations’. Shaw’s research (R5) also influenced the development of their Unthinking Photography online publishing platform, which received a nomination by the International Center of Photography for an Infinity Award (2017) (S8). Shaw’s model also provided membership communities such as The Association for Photography in Higher Education (APHE) opportunities ‘ to see beyond the confines of the ‘consumer’ model of books’ and to ‘create an open and hybrid model for the co-production of content with the APHE community’ (S9). This led APHE to focus engagement and dissemination activities, nearly tripling their membership and growing their income by 150% (S9).