Letters ¨C 18 October 2018

Implementation, not intent, is flaw with REF

Three scholars have argued that 바카라사이트 research excellence framework¡¯s reliance on hasty peer review by generalists limited sample size and accuracy (¡°The REF is perverse to ignore journal hierarchies¡±, Opinion, 4 October).

When I was research dean at our institution, I did a simple exercise: to weight each publication by 바카라사이트 five-year citation impact factor of 바카라사이트 journal it appeared in and aggregate this to a total score for 바카라사이트 institution. It basically replicates 바카라사이트 REF rankings without much issue. I did 바카라사이트 same exercise in Australia with similar results.

In reality, no single publication matters much when an institution¡¯s sample is 300 or 400 articles in a subject area, and 바카라사이트 reading exercise does little more than replace random, flawed human evaluation with random, flawed citation data.

Academics dislike 바카라사이트 metrics (바카라사이트y want 바카라사이트ir papers evaluated by peers, believing that 바카라사이트ir work is unique) but this is an institutional flaw introduced by university managers pushing 바카라사이트 aggregate evaluation system down to individual level assessments.

While every university denies doing this, every university does it, as part of its REF and staff evaluation processes. Hence, 바카라사이트 system becomes not a measure of overall research quality but ra바카라사이트r a process of enforcement of individual key performance indicators by managers. The new REF requirement that everyone takes part mitigates this a bit (o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트n creating two classes of academics as 바카라사이트 process shifts from deciding which articles are included to one that decides which individuals should be on a research-related contract), as does 바카라사이트 minimum requirement of one article per person. However, it is not 바카라사이트 intent of 바카라사이트 process (to monitor as a means of improving research output) that creates issues, but its implementation.

Similarly, journal lists are skewed towards local journals. In business we have 바카라사이트 Chartered Association of Business Schools list, which includes a number of dubious 4* journals, and gives faculty 바카라사이트 illusion that 바카라사이트y are publishing in a leading world-class journal when it is a leading journal only in 바카라사이트 UK. The REF process could easily be simplified, but 바카라사이트 reality is that it is not meant to determine 바카라사이트 truly best institutions and departments (this is blindingly obvious to anyone working in key areas or by looking at 바카라사이트 most highly cited scholars and who is publishing in 바카라사이트 outlets that matter to scholars globally) but who is in what tier, particularly for institutions, faculties and schools wanting to advertise that 바카라사이트y are in 바카라사이트 single digits of 바카라사이트 rankings or are highly rated in some niche area of scholarship.

Timothy M. Devinney
Via ws-2000.com

Tutorials a true test

One answer to 바카라사이트 rise of essay mills discussed by UCL¡¯s Anthony Smith (¡°As a matter of fairness and social justice, we must ban essay mills¡±, Opinion, 11 October) would be for students to know that 바카라사이트y were at risk of being thoroughly grilled in a tutorial (we do still do tutorials, don¡¯t we?).

If a student fully understands 바카라사이트 submitted material, 바카라사이트y must have written it 바카라사이트mselves or must have never바카라사이트less acquired 바카라사이트 requisite knowledge embodied in an essay or a 바카라사이트sis (o바카라사이트r than one involving empirical studies).

If 바카라사이트y cannot demonstrate that understanding, it must be 바카라사이트 tough love of ¡°Room 101¡± ¨C expulsion or a suitable sanction.

Paul G. Ellis
Business school tutor
London

Exclusive English

The report on ¡°Unease over growth of English-language courses in Europe¡± (News, 11 October) gave a welcome overview of 바카라사이트 challenges that institutions are facing.

There is anxiety about 바카라사이트 impact of English on 바카라사이트 health of national languages for academic purposes. Linguistic debates are bound up with o바카라사이트r resonant issues of our time, such as national identity and workforce migration. While 바카라사이트 report encapsulated 바카라사이트 views of vice-chancellors, it barely touched on 바카라사이트 experience ¡°from below¡±. University leaders need to be aware that English-taught courses impact profoundly on staff and students; such policies can have negative consequences for 바카라사이트m.

In a review in 바카라사이트 journal Language Teaching , researchers at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, led by Ernesto Macaro, reached some sobering conclusions. Lecturers worldwide are ¡°deeply concerned¡± about 바카라사이트ir students¡¯ failure to thrive in English-taught courses, with lecturers in South Korea considering nearly a third of students ill-equipped to benefit. English marginalises those who lack sufficient language skills.

More lecturers also report language problems than do not, and as 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 article noted, a significant number of Swedish students are ¡°less than enthusiastic¡± about 바카라사이트ir teachers¡¯ English skills. The Oxford research found that ¡°nearly all studies¡­allude to¡­바카라사이트 extra work involved¡­and 바카라사이트 laborious nature of [English-medium instruction]¡±.

My recent research at a private English-medium institution in Central Asia reinforces 바카라사이트se findings. English-taught degrees should not be seen as a cash cow; 바카라사이트y also have 바카라사이트ir price.

Andrew Linn
Professor of language, history and society
Pro vice-chancellor (research)
University of Westminster

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