Pillar A: Research Outputs (60%) Template

Section 1: Purpose of Research Output

The purpose of the Research Output submission is to demonstrate the intellectual quality and contribution of the university’s strongest research.

Section 2: Scope

Number of Outputs

Institutions may submit up to 10 research outputs.
For the pilot phase, institutions must submit 3–5 outputs only.

Eligible Output Types
Research outputs may include, but are not limited to:

Journal articles
Books
Datasets
Patents
Creative works

Section 3: General Principles

1. Availability to Panels

All outputs listed in submissions will be made available to the relevant sub-panel for assessment.

2. Assessment Criteria

Reviewers will assess outputs based on:
- Originality
- Transparency
- Rigour
- Peer validation

3. Selection Guidance

Institutions should select distinct and verifiable outputs.
Submitting many similar works should be avoided.

4. Equality of Assessment

All types of research and all forms of output across all disciplines are assessed on a fair and equal basis, including:
- Interdisciplinary research
- Collaborative research

5. Panel E (Interdisciplinary Research)

Panel E covers research that spans two or more main panels (A–D).
Panel E assessments are organised around Pakistan’s national priority themes, rather than a single discipline.

6. Consistency Requirement

Institutions must ensure consistency in author names, affiliations, and acknowledgements across all submitted outputs.

Section 4: Individual Research Output Record

4.1 Output Identification

Title of Output:
Type of Output:
(e.g. journal article, book, dataset, patent, creative work)
Year of Publication / Public Availability:
Authors (as published):
Institutional Affiliation(s):
Disciplinary Area / Unit of Assessment:
Relevant REF Panel (A–E):

4.2 Output Summary (Maximum 150 Words)

Provide a concise summary (up to 150 words) explaining:

The originality of the output
The rigour of the research
The contribution of the output to the field

Each output requires a separate 150-word summary.

4.3 Verification and Evidence Requirements

A. Journal Articles and Conference Proceedings

The submission must include:

Digital Object Identifier (DOI), wherever available, to enable sourcing by the REF Secretariat
Where the output cannot be sourced from the publisher, the institution must provide:
- An electronic copy of the output

Supplementary Information

Where supplementary information has been published:
- Provide a DOI or other URL (if no DOI is available)
- This must be included where it differs from the DOI of the main output

B. All Other Output Types

For all other types of output, the institution must provide:

An electronic copy, wherever available; or
Where an electronic copy is not available:
- A physical output, or
- Appropriate evidence of the output, such as:
  - DOI
  - ISBN
  - Acceptance letter
  - URL

4.4 Deposit Requirement

The output must have been deposited as the author’s accepted manuscript.
Where the published version of record:
- Is available for deposit within the required timeframe, and
- The journal or conference publisher permits it,
  → The version of record may be deposited instead.

Exclusions

Outputs that have been provisionally accepted for publication, subject to further revisions following peer review, are not considered final texts and must not be submitted.

Section 5: Declaration and Institutional Assurance

The submitting institution confirms that:

All information provided is accurate and verifiable
All required evidence has been supplied in accordance with REF4Pakistan requirements
The outputs comply with deposit, verification, and consistency requirements
The submission adheres to the principle that all research types and disciplines are assessed fairly and equally

Section 6: Institutional Authorisation

Name of Institution:
REF Institutional Coordinator:
Position:
Email Address:
Date of Submission: