Impact pilot exercise
In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) significant additional recognition will be given where researchers build on excellent research to deliver demonstrable benefits to the economy, society, public policy, culture and quality of life. Impacts will be assessed through a case-study approach that will be tested in a pilot exercise.
Demonstrating impact
We propose that institutions will need to submit evidence of impact for assessment in the REF. This will take the form of:
- an impact statement describing the breadth of interactions with research users, an overview of positive impacts achieved by the unit as a whole
- a number of case studies briefly illustrating specific examples of impact (we propose one case study for every 5 to 10 members of staff).
Indicators of impact selected from a common 'menu' will support these statements (such as research income generated from research users, and indicators of collaboration). We intend that research users will be involved heavily in assessing impact across the full range of panels.
- HEFCE 2009/38 sets out these proposals in more detail
Pilot exercise
This element in the assessment process is largely new and comparatively untried. For this reason, we are running a pilot exercise to test and inform the further development of our approach. We envisage that the pilot will run from autumn 2009 to mid-2010. We invited institutions to express an interest in taking part in the pilot in HEFCE Circular letter 19/2009.
We are piloting the impact proposals in five Units of Assessment (UOA). These are:
- Clinical Medicine
- Physics
- Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
- Social Work and Social Policy & Administration
- English Language and Literature
We will ask higher education institutions involved in the pilot exercise to make impact submissions in broadly the form set out above. We will aim to receive around 10 submissions in total to each UOA.
We will set up a pilot expert panel for each UOA to assess the submissions, and provide advice and feedback on the process. We envisage that membership of the panels will include significant numbers of research users as well as practising researchers.
A steering group has been set up to advise on the implementation of the pilot.
REF Impact Pilot Exercise Steering Group: terms of reference and membership
[ Adobe PDF 9K | MS Word 55K ]
Impact pilot exercise: participating institutions and Units of Assessment
[ Adobe PDF 25K | MS Word 72K ]
Impact pilot exercise: guidance on submissions for participating institutions
[ impact pilot exercise: guidance on submissions for participating institutions as Adobe PDF 314K | impact pilot exercise: guidance on submissions for participating institutions as MS Word 307K ]
Further information
Further information about the pilot will be added to this web page as the pilot progresses. To receive e-mail alerts when information is added, please join our REF-NEWS mailing list.
Last updated 29 January 2010