What Counts as "Independent Evidence"?
For Pillar C: Research Impact (15%), your claims of real-world benefit must be supported by independent verification. Reviewers will not score a case study based on institutional narrative alone; they require dated, third-party proof that demonstrates a clear causal link between your research and the resulting change.
1. Mandatory Verification Standard
Every impact case study must include a list of at least one (ideally 3–5) independent sources. If a case study contains no independent verification, it will likely be rated as Unclassified (U).
2. Acceptable Types of Evidence
Reviewers look for evidence that is external to the university or clearly verifiable through public or third-party records.
Evidence Category | Examples of Verifiable Proof |
Policy and Governance | Citations in national legislation, parliamentary reports, or official government policy documents. Formal adoption of clinical guidelines by health authorities. |
Testimonials | Dated letters from a Government Secretary, NGO lead, or industry partner confirming how they used your research to inform practice or policy development. |
Economic and Industry | Licensing agreements, patent protections granted, or audited data on cost reductions/revenue growth in a specific company. |
Social and Public | Independent evaluation reports, user feedback data from community groups, or NGO reports documenting changes in behaviour or quality of life. |
Media and Recognition | Critical coverage in reputable international or national media that highlights the outcome of the research rather than just its dissemination. |
3. Evidence Quality Expectations
To achieve a high star rating (3* or 4*), your evidence must meet the following three criteria:
- Independence: The source must be from a third party (e.g., a beneficiary, user, or policymaker) who can speak to the impact from their own perspective.
- Traceability: Every document must be dated and attributable. It should link directly to the specific claims made in your 5-page narrative.
- Outcome vs. Activity: Evidence must prove an outcome (e.g., “3,000 farmers used this tool to increase yield”) rather than just an activity (e.g., “we held a workshop for 3,000 farmers”).
4. Final Checklist for Impact Officers
- Is the evidence dated? (The impact must have occurred within the assessment window).
- Is it independent? (Avoid internal university newsletters or self-published blogs).
- Does it prove causality? (Does the source explicitly credit your university’s research as the driver of the change?).
- Is it accessible? (Provide a URL, DOI, or attached PDF for reviewers to inspect).
Pro-Tip: Start collecting testimonial letters and external reports during the research project delivery phase, as beneficiary contacts can be difficult to track down later.