This week, the impact case studies from REF 2021 were finally published. These case studies – which each eligible institution must turn in as part of their REF submission – attempt to give a snapshot an academic’s (or academics’) impact, by showing in a short 5-page narrative the link between their research and some benefit on society, the economy, culture or health.
Good impact case studies are strange beasts. They straddle the quantifiable and the qualitative, needing both a clear and coherent narrative but also ideally some concrete stats. While last time round they counted for only 20% of an institution’s REF score, in REF 2021 they’re now worth a full fourth of the overall score.
