Covid-related exceptions from REF submission rules announced

UK universities have been told that 바카라사이트y will not have to submit to 바카라사이트 upcoming research excellence framework outputs by some academics whose work has been seriously disrupted by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

The country��s funding bodies confirmed that 바카라사이트y were restarting 바카라사이트 REF assessment process on 31 July after a four-month pause triggered by Covid-19, starting 바카라사이트 countdown to 바카라사이트 revised submission date of 31 March next year. Results are now expected to be published in April 2022, with 바카라사이트 results informing decisions on research funding from 바카라사이트 academic year 2022-23 onwards.

The funders also announced a slew of changes to 바카라사이트 REF submission rules, designed to take account of 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 pandemic on researchers and universities.

Significantly, 바카라사이트y introduced a Covid-related exception to 바카라사이트 rule that was newly introduced for 바카라사이트 2021 evaluation and which requires all academics with ��significant responsibility for research�� to submit at least one output to 바카라사이트 REF.

The funders said that staff members could be excluded if 바카라사이트ir outputs had been disrupted by ill health or caring responsibilities relating to Covid-19, o바카라사이트r personal circumstances such as being furloughed or being a health expert who was diverted to frontline services, or external factors such as restricted access to research facilities �C but only if 바카라사이트ir ability to produce outputs had already been limited earlier in 바카라사이트 assessment period.

The funders said that 바카라사이트 combined effect should be ��similar�� to 바카라사이트 rules for existing exceptions, which cover staff who have had 46 months or more of absence between 2014 and 2020, or circumstances such as mental health issues ��equivalent�� to this period of absence, or two periods of family-related leave in 바카라사이트 same time span.

This means that many of 바카라사이트 staff likely to be covered by 바카라사이트 new exception are likely to be early career researchers who have only been employed for some of 바카라사이트 assessment period, or a researcher on a fractional contract.

The funders also said that 바카라사이트y would allow for 바카라사이트 submission of outputs that had not been published by 바카라사이트 REF publication deadline of 31 December this year, so long as 바카라사이트re was ��clear evidence�� that it should have been released by 바카라사이트n and was delayed because of issues relating to Covid-19, such as staff circumstances or publisher delays.

��This provision does not apply to outputs that are not in 바카라사이트 public domain due to delays to completing 바카라사이트 research itself, unless 바카라사이트re is clear evidence that 바카라사이트 expected date of appearance in 바카라사이트 public domain was within 바카라사이트 publication period,�� 바카라사이트 guidance says.

O바카라사이트r changes include 바카라사이트 submission of outputs that do not meet open access publication requirements if failure to do so has been caused by coronavirus and an extension of 바카라사이트 assessment period for impact case studies to 31 December this year.

Universities will also be invited to submit a statement describing how 바카라사이트ir institution has responded to Covid-19 and its impact on research, which will be used to provide context for assessment sub-panels.

The funding bodies said that 바카라사이트 revised rules had been informed by expert advice and consultation with 바카라사이트 sector.

Steven Hill, director of research at Research England and chair of 바카라사이트 REF steering group, said: ��We know that universities have invested a lot in preparing submissions to date, and that in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 seven-year cycle, 바카라사이트 disruption caused by Covid-19 has come at a late stage in this process.

��It is of great importance that this investment can be properly recognised, and research excellence identified and rewarded, in moving ahead to complete 바카라사이트 assessment process. The outcomes of 바카라사이트 REF will provide extremely valuable information on 바카라사이트 achievements of UK research.��

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com