How does Welsh university research advance the world around us?

Welsh university research has a transformational impact across all levels of society. The most recent ‘Research Excellence Framework’ (REF) results, which assesses the quality of university research, showed that Welsh universities have the highest percentage of ‘world leading’ research in terms of its impact of any part of the UK, with almost half of it considered to be having a transformational effect on society and the economy.

Welsh university research:

• - Established a new standard of care that has halved the risks of dying of prostate cancer.
• - Developed a cost-effective depression prevention programme that is being delivered to thousands of members of the public and professionals within the NHS.
• - Established the first systematic examination of the evolution of public opinion and electoral behaviour in Wales, influencing the UK Government’s Commission on Devolution and instigating the Wales-specific YouGov surveys.
• - Changed policy thinking on supported living environments for older people at Welsh Government level that led to revisions on guidelines in relation to care-home closures.
• - Made the clinical assessments of child abuse and neglect more reliable, resulting in improved training to all healthcare staff across the UK and to over 100,000 other health professionals, social workers, police and judiciary staff and researchers from 40 different countries.
• -Transformed school meals, reaching more than 500,000 children and increasing the number of primary school children eating ‘five a day’, by showing how the school food chain could be reformed through a better procurement system.

You can find out more by exploring the range of research case studies which demonstrate the depth and breadth of the work being carried out by our universities, the significant impact that this is having internationally and commercially, and the talented people who are involved.

What makes all of this possible?

Underpinning all research at Welsh Universities is Quality Research (QR) funding – one part of the ‘dual-funding’ system that makes all of this amazing research possible.

QR is ‘core’ funding from Welsh Government and provides the foundations on which the second element of the ‘dual-funding’ system – competitive funding – relies. This includes match funding in bids for Research Councils, charities or (at present) European Union funding.  However, the benefits of QR go beyond attracting and leveraging competitive research funding into Welsh universities. QR also provides a stable source of funding that enables long-term strategic development of research, attracting and retaining the best researchers from across the world and providing opportunities to resource new and emerging areas of research.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 results are used as the basis for the allocation of QR funding to universities. The most recent ‘Research Excellence Framework’ results, which assesses the quality of university research, showed that Welsh universities have made massive improvements in the impact of their research. Our infographic gives an overview of how Welsh university research is having a transformational impact across all levels of society.

Arts, Media & History

From re-discovering Richard Burton, uncovering a medieval ship, to establishing Welsh as a modern language, the work of Wales’s universities in the field of arts, media and history is important to the nation as well as having an international impact.

“…one of the Trust achievements of which I am proud is our decision to require BBC News to dramatically improve its performance in reporting the devolved nations of the UK both to themselves and to one another.” Sir Michael Lyons, BBC Chairman

O ail-ddarganfod Richard Burton, dadorchuddio llong ganoloesol, i sefydlu’r Gymraeg yn iaith fodern, mae gwaith prifysgolion Cymru ym maes y celfyddydau, y cyfryngau a hanes yn bwysig i’r genedl ac mae hefyd yn gwneud argraff ryngwladol.

“…un o gyflawniadau’r Ymddiriedolaethau yr wyf yn falch ohono yw ein penderfyniad i fynnu fod Newyddion y BBC yn gwneud gwelliannau dramatig i’w perfformiad wrth ohebu ar genhedloedd datganoledig y Deyrnas Unedig iddyn nhw’u hunain ac i’w gilydd.” Syr Michael Lyons, Cadeirydd y BBC

Society & Politics

These case studies demonstrate the wealth of knowledge and expertise that Wales’s universities have in the study of society and politics, with examples that include thoughtful analysis of political devolution, the human rights of older people, methods to reduce community violence, and the powerful story of the ‘Zanzibar Soccer Queens’, an all-female football team that is challenging perceptions of women in society.

“I am pleased to report on the efforts we are taking in the Department of Health to roll out the ‘Cardiff Model’…We know the Cardiff model works. Now we need to ensure every community sees the benefit.” Norman Lamb, Minister of State for Care and Support

Mae’r astudiaethau enghreifftiol hyn yn arddangos y cyfoeth o wybodaeth ac arbenigedd sydd gan brifysgolion Cymru ym maes astudiaethau cymdeithas a gwleidyddiaeth, ac enghreifftiau o hynny yw dadansoddiad meddylgar o ddatganoli gwleidyddol, hawliau dynol pobl hŷn, dulliau i leihau trais cymunedol, a stori rymus y ‘Zanzibar Soccer Queens’, tîm pêl droed merched sy’n herio canfyddiadau menywod yn eu cymdeithas.

“Rwyf yn falch o adrodd ar yr ymdrechion rydym yn eu gwneud yn yr Adran Iechyd i gyflwyno ‘Model Caerdydd’…Gwyddom fod model Caerdydd yn gweithio. Yr hyn sydd ei angen yn awr yw sicrhau bod pob cymuned yn elwa ohono.” Norman Lamb, Gweinidog Gwladol dros Ofal a Chynhaliaeth

Design, Technology & Engineering

Work being done by Welsh universities is having a big impact, from the use of digital design to improve reconstructive surgery, greater accuracy in the outputs of computerised devices in healthcare, as well as how university engineering partnerships with industry can have huge commercial success.

“This development is good news for Finland and for the world… it will offer alternatives for other nations seeking to sustainably and responsibly manage spent fuel.” Yukiya Amanom, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency

Mae’r gwaith a wneir gan brifysgolion Cymru yn gwneud argraff fawr, o’r defnydd o ddylunio digidol i wella llawfeddygaeth ailadeiladol, gwella manwl-gywirdeb dyfeisiau cyfrifiadurol ym maes gofal iechyd, a sut all partneriaethau peirianneg prifysgolion gyda diwydiant arwain at lwyddiant masnachol mawr.

“Mae’r datblygiad hwn yn newyddion da i’r Ffindir ac i’r byd… bydd yn cynnig dewisiadau i genhedloedd eraill sy’n ceisio rheoli gweddillion tanwydd yn gyfrifol a chynaliadwy.” Yukiya Amanom, Cyfarwyddwr Cyffredinol yr Asiantaeth Ynni Atomig Rhyngwladol

Food, Water & Environment

Helping the prospects of endangered species, improving the quality of bathing water, changing attitudes to climate change, and research that has an international impact on food safety, are just some examples of the globally important work being done by our universities in this area.

“I would judge the CREH, Aberystwyth …studies together with the parallel predictive modelling… have comprised the single most significant set of published research investigations world-wide guiding WHO policy during the development of the WHO Guidelines”, Lead Scientist for the World Health Organisation

Mae helpu rhagolygon rhywogaethau sydd mewn perygl, gwella ansawdd dyfroedd ymdrochi, newid agweddau at newid hinsawdd ac ymchwil sy’n cael effaith ryngwladol ar ddiogelwch bwyd yn rhai enghreifftiau yn unig o’r gwaith o bwys byd-eang y mae ein prifysgolion yn ei wneud yn y maes hwn.

“Yn fy marn i astudiaethau CREH, Aberystwyth …ynghyd â’r modelu rhagfynegol cyfochrog… yw’r casgliad mwyaf arwyddocaol o ymchwiliadau a gyhoeddwyd yn y byd a lywiodd bolisïau’r WHO wrth inni ddatblygu Canllawiau’r WHO.” Brif Wyddonydd ar gyfer Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd

Health & Wellbeing

From new ways to treat depression, research demonstrating the health benefits of physical exercise, and how adopting new methodologies can improve service provision, whether in emergency services or care of the elderly, are all examples of the innovative work being carried out by our university experts.

“During conversations with those who work in the field of adult protection, it became clear that many people see the current law on adult protection as a confusing maze. This guide seeks to reduce that confusion; its purpose is to help make practitioners more aware of the law available to them in their day to day work.” Ruth Marks, former Older People’s Commissioner of Wales

Mae ffyrdd newydd o drin iselder, ymchwil sy’n arddangos manteision iechyd ymarfer corfforol, a sut all mabwysiadu methodolegau newydd wella’r ffordd y caiff gwasanaethau eu darparu, boed yn wasanaethau brys neu’n ofal am yr henoed, oll yn enghreifftiau o’r gwaith blaengar sy’n cael ei wneud gan arbenigwyr yn ein prifysgolion.

“Yn ystod sgyrsiau gyda phobl sy’n gweithio ym maes amddiffyn oedolion, daeth yn amlwg fod llawer o bobl yn credu fod y gyfraith ar amddiffyn oedolion yn ddrysfa annealladwy. Mae’r arweiniad hwn yn ceisio lleihau’r dryswch hwnnw; ei bwrpas yw helpu gwneud ymarferwyr yn fwy ymwybodol o’r gyfraith sydd ar gael iddynt yn eu gwaith beunyddiol.” Ruth Marks, cyn Comisiynydd Pobl Hŷn Cymru

Physical Sciences

Work being done by Welsh universities is having a big impact internationally, from the exciting world of space science and the Herschel space observatory through to the innovation involved in building a 39 metre mirror to fit Europe’s Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT).

“Thank you for a programme both educating and inspiring for myself and my 10 year old son.” Viewer feedback, Frozen Planet (BBC)

Mae’r gwaith a wneir gan brifysgolion Cymru yn gwneud argraff fawr yn rhyngwladol, o fyd cyffrous gwyddor y gofod ac arsyllfa’r gofod Herschel, yr arloesedd sydd ynghlwm wrth adeiladu drych 39 metr i ffitio’r Telesgop Mawr Iawn Ewropeaidd (E-ELT), a llwyddiant Robot Wyddonydd o’r enw Adam.

“Diolch ichi am raglen oedd yn addysgiadol ac yn ysbrydoledig imi a’m mab 10 oed.” Adborth gwyliwr, Frozen Planet

Aberystwyth University

Bangor University

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Cardiff University

Glyndŵr University

Open University

Swansea University

University of South Wales

University of Wales Trinity St David