Why isn't societal relevance (impact) one of the core domains?

Societal relevance. Impact. Valorisation. These terms are used interchangeably in the Dutch debate on academic research. 

‘Impact’ suggests a linear relationship between research and society, in which the source, target and content can be clearly delineated and identified. ‘Valorisation’ is seen by many as having largely economic connotations, while other ways of applying knowledge (social, cultural, technological) should also be assessed. We therefore prefer the neutral term ‘societal relevance’.

When it comes to societal relevance and Academia in Motion, we have not listed it separately because we see societal relevance as an integral part of the work that we do across the four domains.

Our education, for example, is relevant for society because we train students to be critical thinkers and because we involve societal partners in shaping and improving our education. Our research has scientific relevance because methods and results are adopted by international scientists and contribute to new knowledge. With our research, we also contribute to major societal issues, both by answering fundamental questions arising from these challenges or by developing and testing solutions to those challenges. 

Whenever possible, we encourage faculty to engage in communication and outreach initiatives, and to involve the public in research and study, including through citizen science.