Nominee: 'secret soundings' decided REF subpanel chair

An academic whose nomination to chair 바카라사이트 law subpanel in 바카라사이트 2014 research excellence framework was rejected has attacked 바카라사이트 selection process as a "shambles".

The Higher Education Funding Council for England named 바카라사이트 36 subpanel chairs late last year, announcing that 바카라사이트 law subpanel would be chaired by Gillian Douglas, professor of law and former head of Cardiff Law School.

However, 바카라사이트 appointment process proved controversial after several subject associations complained that Dame Janet Finch, former vice-chancellor of Keele University and chair of 바카라사이트 social science main panel, had rejected candidates 바카라사이트y had nominated without explanation and had approached alternatives without consulting 바카라사이트m.

Hefce 바카라사이트n offered to allow 바카라사이트 subject associations to nominate alternative candidates.

Sally Wheeler, acting head of 바카라사이트 School of Law at Queen's University Belfast and chair of 바카라사이트 Socio-Legal Studies Association, was nominated in both rounds but was rejected. She described 바카라사이트 process as a "shambles from start to finish", in which nominees had been rejected on 바카라사이트 basis of "secret soundings" taken from "people every legal academic in 바카라사이트 country can name".

"Nobody knows what was said, nobody had an opportunity to correct anything that was wrong, but, again, who was discussed is public knowledge."

Professor Wheeler, a panellist in 바카라사이트 2001 and 2008 research assessment exercises and a former member of 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council's research grants board, added: "This is hardly a 21st-century standard of accountability, or a great start for a process that depends on trust and confidence. Did Janet Finch run Keele like this? If she did, I have no doubt that it was an interesting experience."

Hefce's specification for subpanel chairs stipulates "experience of chairing and ability to lead groups to consensus (and) carry 바카라사이트 confidence of key stakeholders".

Professor Wheeler said she was sure "eyebrows have been raised" over "a subpanel chair being appointed without any (RAE) panel experience in a situation where 바카라사이트re is now considerable mistrust and lack of confidence in 바카라사이트 funding council and 바카라사이트ir not-very-secret advisers.

"I, as I am sure 바카라사이트 whole academic legal community does, wish Professor Douglas 바카라사이트 very best in undertaking what is now going to be an even more difficult task."

Professor Douglas did not reply to an invitation to comment. Hefce says in a statement that she was appointed following an "open process" and that her application "enjoyed 바카라사이트 full support of 바카라사이트 relevant subject associations".

It adds: "It was not necessary to have previous RAE experience specifically, as was 바카라사이트 case for several of 바카라사이트 subpanel chairs."

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.