Impactful, Engaged, or Both? A Survey on Academic External Activities

The relationship between academic engagement and the perceived impact of academic activities is a critical area of research with implications for scholarly impact and broader societal and economic outcomes. This paper presents results from a multi-country study that examine the correlation between academic engagement and the perceived non-academic impact of academic activities at both individual and community levels, identify specific activities that are consistently perceived as engaging and impactful. The study draws from the perspectives of management academics from six different countries: Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom, with 360 completed responses forming the research sample. We found a significant but weak positive correlation between the perception of an activity as engaging and its perceived non-academic impact at both individual and community levels. Additionally, the study reveals a continuum in the perceptions of various academic activities, with some activities being considered engaging, impactful, or both. Three specific activities were identified as being perceived as both engaging and impactful by respondents: 1) the creation of patents through industry collaboration, 2) non-academic publication and broadcasting, and 3) providing evidence, consultancy, or advice to policy-making bodies. These activities demonstrate the capacity to influence multiple external actors simultaneously. This study provides valuable insights into the nuanced perception of academic engagement activities, contributing to the ongoing discourse on research impact beyond academia.