Pillar C: Research Impact (15%) Template

Purpose of Impact

For the purposes of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) for Pakistan, impact is defined as:

An effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia.

Academic impacts on research or the advancement of academic knowledge (whether in Pakistan or internationally) must not be submitted here. These are assessed under Pillar A (Outputs) and Pillar B (Environment).

Submission Requirements

Each Higher Education Institution must submit one or two impact case studies.
Maximum length: 5 pages per case study.
Pilot phase requirement: Only one impact case study is required.
Each case study must include at least one independently verifiable piece of evidence.
Reviewers will verify all impacts claimed.
Institutions must use this template in full.
See Appendix C – Impact Case Study Template for formatting requirements.

Structure of Each Impact Case Study

Each impact case study must include all sections below.

1. Underpinning Research

1.1 Summary of Underpinning Research

Provide a clear and concise summary of the research that underpins the impact.
The research must be identifiable and traceable.

1.2 Research Identifiers

Provide DOI(s) for the underpinning research.
If multiple outputs underpin the impact, list all relevant DOIs.

2. Pathway to Impact

Describe how the research led to the impact.

This section must explain:

How the research was taken up, used, applied, or engaged with
The mechanisms through which change occurred
The sequence from research findings to real-world outcomes

3. Nature of the Impact

Explain what changed, who benefited, and how.

Impact may include, but is not limited to, an effect on, change or benefit to:

Activity
Attitude
Awareness
Behaviour
Capacity
Opportunity
Performance
Policy
Practice
Process
Understanding

This includes:

Reduction or prevention of harm, risk, cost, or other negative effects, expressed as a positive benefit.

Examples (Illustrative Only):

Policy changes
Clinical guidelines
Economic improvements
Environmental improvements
Cultural enrichment

4. Beneficiaries and Reach

4.1 Beneficiaries

Identify the beneficiaries of the impact. This may include:

An audience
Beneficiaries
Communities
Constituencies
Organisations
Individuals

4.2 Geographic Reach

Impacts may occur locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally.
Strong local impact is fully valid.
Impacts will be assessed regardless of geographic location.

Impacts contributing to Pakistan’s economy, society and culture are valued, but international or other country impacts are equally valued.

5. Evidence of Reach and Significance

Impacts will be assessed on:

Reach – the extent or breadth of the impact
Significance – the depth or importance of the benefit or change

This section must include both:

5.1 Quantitative Evidence

Examples include (where applicable):

Numbers reached
Scale of adoption
Coverage statistics
Measurable outcomes

5.2 Qualitative Evidence

Examples include (where applicable):

Narratives
Testimonials
Case descriptions
Stakeholder accounts

6. Independent Verification

Each case study must include at least one independently verifiable piece of evidence.

Acceptable forms include:

Letters from external organisations or stakeholders
Policy documents
Citations in non-academic sources
Evaluation data
Independent reports

Reviewers will verify all impacts claimed.

Failure to include independent verification may result in the case study being rated Unclassified (U).

Included Impacts

Impacts may include effects on:

Students
Teaching
Educational activities
Professional practice

These may occur:

Within the submitting HEI
Beyond the submitting HEI

Explicit Exclusions

The following must not be claimed as impact in Pillar C:

Academic citations in journals
Contributions solely to academic knowledge
Impacts limited to scholarly communities

These are assessed under Outputs (Pillar A) or Environment (Pillar B).

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Institutions must explicitly avoid the following:

1. Over-Statement

Do not make claims that cannot be clearly traced back to the underpinning research.

2. Academic Impact Only

Impact must be beyond academia.
Journal citations alone are not impact under Pillar C.

3. Missing Evidence

Case studies without independent verification are likely to be rated Unclassified (U).
Institutions are advised to begin collecting testimonial letters, policy evidence, and evaluation data early, particularly during Stage 2 of the pilot cycle.

Declaration

The submitting institution confirms that:

All claims are accurate and evidence-based
Independent verification is provided
Impacts claimed are beyond academia
Evidence can be verified by reviewers