In this submission, DASSH sets out the key areas of concern for Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) disciplines in the higher education sector.

For industries to adopt innovations and for research to have an impact, there must be significant shifts in people’s behaviours, their perceptions, and the ways communities engage with research. These activities are the research focus of the humanities, arts, and social sciences (HASS) disciplines.

This document seeks to make a contribution to the field through crystallising key positions and taking a stance in ongoing conversations that consider how we measure quality in creative practice research.

The use of the term “impact” in the social sciences and humanities has lately acquired a defensive tone. This paper argues that the “impact” of SSH could and should be seen as actively contributing to the transformative relationship between science and society.

This report is based on the premise that the use of impact assessments can bring substantial benefits to the research community, including enabling the community to better communicate its value, encouraging developments in research and teaching, and — fundamentally — helping the community find ways to increase its already substantial impacts across society.