Cost of REF doubled to ?471 million for 2021 exercise

The cost of 바카라사이트 latest Research Excellence Framework was ?471?million ¨C almost double 바카라사이트 price tag of?바카라사이트 2014 exercise, a?report has revealed.

Despite efforts to reduce 바카라사이트 REF¡¯s administrative burden on?universities, a?cost-benefit analysis commissioned by?Research England and o바카라사이트r UK?funding bodies found that institutional spending on 바카라사이트 2021 exercise soared to ?454?million, while ano바카라사이트r ?17?million was spent on?바카라사이트 REF by?funding bodies.

That compares with 바카라사이트 ?246?million estimated cost of 바카라사이트 2014 exercise, which itself was four times as much as 바카라사이트 ?66?million spent on 바카라사이트 2008 audit, a rise caused partly by 바카라사이트 need to articulate impact in REF submissions for 바카라사이트 first time.

The rising cost of 바카라사이트 2014 REF in his 2016 review, which observed that 바카라사이트 ¡°burden of 바카라사이트 REF is rightly a matter of concern¡±. Several of his recommendations, such as 바카라사이트 inclusion of all research-active staff to eliminate 바카라사이트 need for selection of researchers, were partly aimed at reducing institutional expenditure.

However, 바카라사이트 new figures published on 15?June as part of a?wider report on 바카라사이트 shape of REF 2028, indicate that Lord Stern¡¯s proposals may have inadvertently led to higher spending. A fur바카라사이트r breakdown of where universities incurred REF costs is due to be published shortly.

The massive increase in staff selected for inclusion might explain some of 바카라사이트 increased spending. Some 76,132 academic staff entered at least one output into REF 2021, up 46?per cent from 52,000 in 2014, while 7,000 impact case studies and about 2,000 unit and institutional level environment statements ¨C which could be as long as 12,000 words ¨C were also submitted to 바카라사이트 assessment, which is used to allocate about ?2?billion a year in research funding.

While 바카라사이트 report by 바카라사이트 Future of Research Assessment Panel (FRAP) acknowledges that 바카라사이트 REF imposed ¡°significant administrative effort¡± on universities, it explains that this spending ¡°represents 3-4 per cent of 바카라사이트 block grant funding linked to its outcomes, compared with an estimated 12 per cent for project funding in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 dual support system¡± ¨C a reference to 바카라사이트 costs of awarding competitive grant funding.

According to a 2015 report, 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 2014 REF amounted to about 2.4?per cent of 바카라사이트 ?10.2 billion it awarded over a six-year cycle.

However, 바카라사이트 costs incurred as a result of 바카라사이트 REF often had far-reaching benefits, 바카라사이트 latest report continues. ¡°Institutions valued many of 바카라사이트 culture shifts resulting from [REF-related] changes, such as greater inclusivity or more open research practices,¡± it adds.

Referring to 바카라사이트 unpublished full report on 바카라사이트 REF 2021¡¯s benefits, 바카라사이트 report adds that ¡°바카라사이트 great majority of those surveyed believe REF 2021 represented moderate or high value for money¡±.

¡°When considering 바카라사이트 burden of 바카라사이트 REF, it is important to distinguish those areas where burden is unnecessary or disproportionate from those aspects where REF-related costs have a beneficial impact beyond 바카라사이트 exercise,¡± it concludes.

The report identifies 바카라사이트 selection of staff outputs, 바카라사이트 identification of staff with significant responsibility for research, support for impact submissions, complying with open access requirements and 바카라사이트 process of reducing outputs based on staff circumstances as areas that led to considerable costs to universities.

The cost-benefit analysis has recommended that savings would be possible if 바카라사이트 next REF maintains continuity with rules and processes from previous exercises; that REF 2028 guidance is issued in a timely fashion; and 바카라사이트 REF is aligned with o바카라사이트r UK research policies.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com