June 2025 Impact Case Study Check - Staff home, University of York

The guidance for the 3 elements of REF (People Culture and Environment, Contribution to Knowledge and Understanding and Engagement and Impact) will be coming from Research England at different times over 2025-2026. As such, REF Strategy Group has decided to uncouple internal REF check exercises across the 3 elements, with the first exercise on Impact Case Studies (ICSs) in mid 2025.

Alignment of our institutional REF checkpoints with Research England’s timetable

The guidance from Research England on Engagement and Impact is expected for Summer 2025 so in the interim, UoAs are advised to use the guidance from REF2021 on preparation of ICSs (see Guidance on Submissions and Panel Criteria). Internal York REF checks will not be requesting full narratives of ICSs in the REF template until mid 2026. For this upcoming 2025 ICS check, REF Strategy Group would like to understand the present state of preparedness about ICSs and where UoAs are with their thinking and planning about their ICS portfolios.

Questions for the ICS author

1. Name of the lead author and co authors

2. Working title of the impact case study

3. 100 word impact summary of the case study

4. Underpinning research:

a) Summary of key findings

b) List of underpinning research outputs (incl in press/in preparation)

c) Confirmation that the underpinning research was conducted at UoY

5. Details of the impact:

a) Who benefitted?

b) What changed and when did it occur?

c) What engagement/activities have been undertaken to support the impact(s)?

d) How did the research inform the changes?

e) What further impacts do you plan to achieve to maximise the potential of the impact case study?

f) Please note any significant risks to achieving the impacts outlined in (d).

6. Impact evidence:

a) What impact evidence has been collected to date?

b) Please detail plans for what evidence will be collected, how and by whom.

7. How will the case study be further developed in the next 12 months?

8. What further support would be helpful to maximise the potential of the case study?