Research Assessment
Our consultants are highly experienced in supporting research evaluation, including the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF), the Hong Kong Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), and an institution-wide evaluation at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, Research Evaluation for Development. We use this expertise across a range of REF-focused workshops and support for impact case study authors, reviewers and senior teams.
REF Impact – supporting senior teams
Before a REF case study gets off the ground, it requires strategic development by senior teams. Our consultants offer several services to assist teams in this work, including using WCL’s framework for case study evaluation and progression to provide a health report on your REF case studies and pipeline, shortlisting assistance, and long-term mentoring to help whole cohorts of case studies to progress in impact maturity over the REF cycle. We can also facilitate REF mock review panels to provide external reviews of impact case studies and impact and engagement statements.
REF case study assessment tool
Our REF case study assessment tool provides impact leads with a defined framework to assess their impact pipeline. The tool is a standalone product that teams can use to input and manage their data, or as part of a broader support package. A good communication tool to explain decision-making, it enables a logical impact pipeline assessment that can be used to focus limited resources.
Supporting REF impact case study reviewers
We support those new to reviewing impact case studies, UoA or department leads or directors of impact who would like to increase their confidence when reviewing impact case studies or anyone providing REF impact support for the first time. Whether improving understanding of how to assess reach and significance in draft impact case studies, the requirements of the impact case study template, or evidence best practice, our consultants can help reviewers identify how to feed back fairly and provide a sensible potential ranking.
Supporting impact case study authors
Our consultants and associates have experience in assisting REF case study authors. Whether ensuring case studies adhere to eligibility rules and submission guidance, identifying areas for further development, advising on evidence collection, or more traditional copyediting, our consultants can help authors maximise their chances of a 3 or 4 star case study.
In addition to bespoke consultancy, we offer two in-person workshops for ICS authors - Introduction to REF impact and Writing a REF impact case study.
