Universities and the promotion of scientific culture: proposal of indicators for an analysis of the public engagement activities from the Scientific Culture and Innovation Units

Abstract

Objective. It was designed and developed an indicators system to analyze and monitor the departments responsible for the dissemination of science and technology from the Spanish universities, the so-called Scientific Culture and Innovation Units (UCC+i), in terms of public engagement activities.
Design/Methodology/Approach. Since this work has been a theoretical methodological approach, the research was documentary and descriptive.
Results/Discussion. An indicators system was presented to evaluate essential
characteristics of the UCC+i, their activity in terms of public engagement initiatives and the promotion of these actions from their web pages in order to achieve a comprehensive perspective.
Conclusions. The systematic application of these assessment and monitoring tools to the structures will provide consistent and regular data. That will facilitate the proposal of appropriated measures to its reality.
Originality/Value. These indicators have been specifically developed for the UCC+i, which does not exclude the possibility of adaptation to other systems, and its approach allows a non-limited interpretation to a quantitative study but a broader assessment.