Submission Checklist: Essential Governance and Evidence Requirements
This checklist ensures that your university’s REF Pakistan submission is compliant, complete, and ready for expert review. All submissions must be evidence-led and adhere to the following structural and technical requirements.
1. Governance and Institutional Approval
Before beginning the technical upload, confirm that the following institutional foundations are in place:
- Vice-Chancellor Approval: Formal sign-off confirming institutional accountability for the data submitted.
- Named REF Pakistan Coordinator: A designated point of contact (typically from ORIC or QEC) for all correspondence.
- Internal Review Completed: Confirmation that all narratives have undergone internal peer review and quality assurance.
2. Mandatory Document Bundles
Every assessment submission must contain one folder for each of the three pillars:
Pillar A: Research Outputs (60%)
- Selected Outputs: A maximum of 10 research outputs (3–5 for the pilot phase).
- Output Context Statements: One 150-word narrative per output explaining its Originality, Rigour, and Significance.
- Verification: A valid DOI for all articles/proceedings. For other types (books, datasets, patents), provide a digital copy or URL.
Pillar B: Research Environment (25%)
- Environment Statement: A narrative (max 10 pages) covering Strategy, People and Culture, Infrastructure, and Sustainability.
- 3-Year Data Tables: Mandatory tables detailing Research Income, Staffing (FTE), and PhD Completions.
Pillar C: Research Impact (15%)
- Impact Case Studies: One or two narratives (max 5 pages each) detailing the pathway from research to real-world benefit.
- Independent Verification: At least one (ideally 3–5) dated piece of evidence per case study (e.g., testimonial letters, policy citations, or evaluation reports).
Summary of Evidence Requirements
Pillar | Deliverable | Format |
A. Outputs | 10 Context Statements + Evidence | Word/Excel + PDF |
B. Environment | 10-Page Narrative + Data Tables | PDF + Word |
C. Impact | 1–2 Case Studies + Evidence | PDF + Word |
Annexes | Inclusivity Plan + Responsible Metrics |