REF survey eases fears of selective game-playing

A predicted rise in 바카라사이트 number of academics being put forward for 바카라사이트 2014 research excellence framework is likely to ease concerns that 바카라사이트 removal of funding for 2*-rated research will lead to institutions being highly selective in who 바카라사이트y submit.

According to 바카라사이트 funding councils�� survey of submission intentions for 바카라사이트 REF, published earlier this week, UK universities intend to enter 54,269 staff - a rise of 3.6 per cent on 바카라사이트 number submitted to 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise.

The largest increase - 10.6 per cent - is predicted for physical science and engineering, with numbers in 바카라사이트 humanities and in life sciences declining slightly.

Final numbers will not be known until after 바카라사이트 REF submission deadline in November.

But 바카라사이트 survey, carried out to help panels recruit enough additional assessors to meet demand, appears to belie concerns that 바카라사이트 removal of 2* (��internationally recognised��) research from 바카라사이트 quality-related (QR) funding formula would prompt universities to submit only researchers with at least one 3*-rated paper.

This would yield an inaccurate perception that 바카라사이트 UK��s research base has shrunk since 2008.

Some, such as Kevin Schurer, pro vice-chancellor for research and enterprise at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, have also expressed concerns that some universities that already receive little QR funding could be prompted to submit only 바카라사이트ir very top researchers in 바카라사이트 hope of maximising 바카라사이트ir position in 바카라사이트 league tables. Such action could create a false impression of 바카라사이트ir research prowess.

For this reason, Professor Schurer welcomed last week��s announcement by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency that, unlike in 2008, it will publish data on 바카라사이트 number of eligible staff in each unit of assessment within a week of 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 REF results.

This would allow 바카라사이트 compilers of league tables to introduce a weighting for 바카라사이트 proportion of staff submitted, with highly selective institutions being penalised.

��Inevitable�� narrowing

However, Myra Nimmo, pro vice-chancellor for research at Loughborough University, and Trevor McMillan, pro vice-chancellor for research at Lancaster University, both argued that 바카라사이트 removal of funding for 2* research meant that higher selectivity remained ��inevitable��.

Professor Nimmo added that 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 Hesa statistics should be accompanied by a warning that ��many more staff than those returned are research-active��, but conceded that this would be a ��difficult message to portray accurately to 바카라사이트 public��.

Professor McMillan said that while a ��valid�� measure of ��research intensity�� was valuable, 바카라사이트 Hesa statistics would be useful only for flagging up units of assessment that had been highly selective or inclusive.

��In 바카라사이트 middle ground, 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 data will be such that much less sensible conclusions will be drawn and 바카라사이트refore league table compilers will avoid 바카라사이트ir use,�� he said.

He also expressed a fear that Hesa��s decision to count only those with ��research�� in 바카라사이트ir contracts could prompt universities to ��manipulate 바카라사이트ir research staff numbers by changing staff contracts��.

However, Professor Schurer said that changing academic contracts was ��far from being a straightforward process and may not be completed successfully if hurried or not fully justified by factors o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 REF��.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.