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Congratulations @REF_2021 for caving in and moving the census date for impacts to have happened from 31 July to 31 Dec 2020—a nonsensical move that probably benefits under prepared case study selections than it does those affected by COVID-19. #REF2021 https://twitter.com/REF_2021/status/1273873603042344961
2/I find it slightly extraordinary decision given that evidence collection has become the most difficult thing at this time. By moving the census date this crushes the evidence collection time and risks doubling workload for minimal gains.
3/So the only sensible way to interpret this move is that the census date is whatever you need it to be between July and December on a case by case basis. But 31 Dec is a dangerous point to aim for in 95% of case studies, as there is almost no evidencing period after it.
4/If you have a wrapped up case study that will already meet the 31 July deadline, congratulations on the hard work and organisation! Let it be.
5/In reality, it just affords a *couple* of extra months for an impact to deliver. It's now a game of chicken—how long can you hold out before you need to call time and collect the evidence? Bearing in mind how difficult evidence collection is now!
6/The extended census will benefit more case studies that involved pre-existing challenging impacts than it will the Covid-19 impacted ones. Certainly any serious NHS programme, project delivery or international intervention paused by covid-19 won't suddenly deliver in this time
7/There is no mention of guidance for excellent, highly-deliverable and well-planned expected impacts by stakeholders that were knocked out by Covid-19. Situations where the stakeholders themselves can state the impact of Covid-19 to these programmes—extra time doesn't cut it.
Note: It's an odd way to go about things and open to abuse by those willing to take the risk. But if an HEI didn't have time to select case studies that met the original census date, it's hard to see how they would now have time to make them work for the new date 
Will there be guidance on how sub-panel assessors will review case studies seeking to profiteer from the pandemic to include more impacts? One way is to evidence the Covid-19 impact, perhaps expressed by stakeholder's themselves in the testimonies being collected. #REF2021
n/ In practicality there are still two census dates for #REF2021 impact: 31 July for those case studies not affected by Covid-19 and 31 Dec for those that can demonstrate Covid-19 impact.
