How the CAU IMPAX Index works

IMPAX is CAU’s own original framework. All questions, indicators and scoring rules are written and owned by Creative Arts University Limited. Other development indices are used only as research background.

Four measurement layers

1. Baseline conditions — household stability, technology access, wellbeing.
2. Capability & opportunity — skills, digital and financial literacy, equity, creativity.
3. Actual outcomes — work, enterprise, income change, people trained, community projects.
4. Future scenarios — 12, 24 and 36-month outlooks, always shown as ranges.

Domains and SDGs

• Economic & household stability — SDG 1, 10
• Education & skills — SDG 4
• Employment & enterprise — SDG 8, 9
• Social & community impact — SDG 11, 17
• Gender equity & women's empowerment — SDG 5, 10
• Creativity, innovation & culture — SDG 8, 9, 11
• Health, wellbeing & environment — SDG 3, 12, 13

Scoring

Each scored answer is 1–5; negative statements are reversed. A domain score is the average of its answered items scaled to 0–100. The overall score is the equal-weighted average of domains. Numbers (income, jobs, people trained) and stories are stored as evidence, not scored directly. Gender is never scored. Levels: Transformative (80+), Advancing (60+), Building (40+), Foundational (0+).

Stages

A: Enrolment baseline · B: Academic progress · C: Graduation · D: 6-month follow-up · E: 12-month impact · F: 24-month impact · G: 36-month impact. Each attempt is kept, so change over time can be measured.

People reached

Direct and indirect beneficiaries are each counted once per activity. Women and youth can never exceed the total. Only CAU staff can mark a record as verified.

Projections

Exploratory scenario — not a calibrated forecast or guaranteed outcome. They will be replaced by calibrated models only after enough cohort data has been collected and reviewed.

Research validation

Version impax-1.0 is provisional. CAU will test reliability, fairness across groups and accuracy against observed outcomes, and invite independent researchers to review the method. Validation is about the accuracy of CAU’s own index — no outside approval is required. IMPAX results do not by themselves prove poverty reduction or causal programme impact.