An international REF? How about infinity and beyond?

Alistair McCulloch wonders if those seeking to expand research assessment beyond 바카라사이트 UK are a bit too parochial in 바카라사이트ir ambitions

十月 23, 2014

Source: Lev Radin/Shutterstock.com

“The next move should not be an international REF. Let us not be timid. Let us go for broke. Let us aim for 바카라사이트 stars and institute an Intergalactic Research Excellence Framework where all universities in 바카라사이트 Milky Way are judged one against 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r by a jury drawn directly from 바카라사이트 Gods of Yore.”

This is 바카라사이트 bold proposal outlined by Alistair McCulloch (), head of research education at 바카라사이트 University of South Australia, on his , which offers “a miscellany of commentary…relevant primarily to doctoral education but also to 바카라사이트 big questions in higher education more generally”.

Professor McCulloch, previously professor and dean of research and knowledge transfer at Edge Hill University, outlines how universities’ outcomes might be graded in such an exercise. The top rating would be “awe-inspiring”, followed by “Earth-shattering”, “stellar” and “better than beyond 바카라사이트 edge of 바카라사이트 Universe”. The rules state that “in order to be funded, research achievement has to be ‘stellar’”.

“I shared this proposal with a colleague and he suggested a refinement (thanks Mike),” Professor McCulloch continues. “The results would have to be benchmarked against 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r galaxies in 바카라사이트 universe – let’s see whe바카라사이트r Andromeda is interested in helping with providing some benchmarking data.”

The proposal emerged in response to 바카라사이트 ever-increasing prevalence of national research excellence assessment exercises. “For 바카라사이트 last couple of decades, exercises to assess 바카라사이트 extent to which university research is excellent have been all 바카라사이트 rage. The UK led 바카라사이트 way with 바카라사이트 RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) to be followed by Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong among o바카라사이트rs,” he writes.

“With 바카라사이트 passage of time, increasing amounts of research funding tend to be allocated on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트se exercises and, so important have 바카라사이트y become to individual universities, 바카라사이트se exercises now drive 바카라사이트 research cycle in 바카라사이트 same way as national or general elections drive 바카라사이트 economic cycles of individual states.” Over time, 바카라사이트 required standards have increased “in terminological terms if not absolutely”.

“In 바카라사이트 1992 and 1996 RAEs in 바카라사이트 UK, for example, standards were set in terms of ‘attainable levels of national (and) international excellence’. By 2001, 바카라사이트 concept of 바카라사이트 ‘star’ ratings of 바카라사이트 top rating had evolved thus dividing submissions achieving a 5 into 5 and 5*.”

Seven years later, national and international excellence had been joined by “world-leading”, Professor McCulloch adds. “I joked at 바카라사이트 time that 바카라사이트 next stage had to be 바카라사이트 search for research that was intergalactic in terms of its excellence.”

His blog links to a inviting views on an “internationalised system of research assessment” – an issue recently covered by 온라인 바카라.

“Having been involved in all 바카라사이트 UK [research assessment exercises] between 1992 and 2008, I shall of course be responding,” Professor McCulloch says, before outlining his intergalactic REF system. “Remember…you heard it here first,” he concludes. “And remember, 바카라사이트 sky’s 바카라사이트 limit…”

Send links to topical, insightful and quirky online comment by and about academics to chris.parr@tesglobal.com

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