Early career academics make mark on REF

Nearly a fifth of academics submitted to 바카라사이트 2014 research excellence framework were early career academics with fewer than 바카라사이트 standard four outputs.

The figures are contained in a breakdown of submission data for 바카라사이트 REF, published by 바카라사이트 four UK funding councils on 13 February.

As previously announced, 155 institutions made submissions to 바카라사이트 REF by 바카라사이트 29 November deadline. A total of 52,077 full-time equivalent staff were submitted, compared with 52,401 to 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise.

The REF figure amounts to 28?per cent of 바카라사이트 185,585 academics who were in post in 2012-13, while those submitted to 바카라사이트 last RAE represented 30 per cent of 바카라사이트 174,945 staff in post in 2007-08, according to figures from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency.

The biggest decline in volume of academics submitted, 5?per cent, was to main panel D, which covers 바카라사이트 arts and humanities. The number submitted to main panels A (biomedicine) and C (바카라사이트 social sciences) both fell by 3?per cent. However, submissions to main panel B, which covers 바카라사이트 physical sciences, rose by 9 per cent.

The highest number of staff, 14,415, was submitted to main panel C. The smallest number, 10,698, was submitted to main panel D.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 total number of research ¡°outputs¡± ¨C mostly papers or monographs ¨C submitted to 바카라사이트 REF fell by 11?per cent, to 191,232. The largest fall, of 16?per cent, was to 바카라사이트 biomedicine panel. Outputs to 바카라사이트 arts and humanities panel fell by 15?per cent, those to 바카라사이트 social sciences panel shrank by 11?per cent and those to 바카라사이트 physical sciences panel slipped by 3?per cent.

These declines are reflected in 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 average number of outputs submitted per member of staff declined from 3.75 in 2008 to 3.41 in 2014. As in 2008, 바카라사이트 lowest number of submissions per staff member (3.32) was to 바카라사이트 arts and humanities panel, while 바카라사이트 highest (3.53) was to 바카라사이트 physical sciences panel.

One possible explanation for 바카라사이트 falls could be 바카라사이트 introduction to 바카라사이트 REF of criteria that made it easier for staff to submit fewer than 바카라사이트 standard four outputs owing to various ¡°individual circumstances¡±, such as a period of illness or maternity leave, or having only recently begun academic careers.

In total, 16,361 of 바카라사이트 total staff headcount of 56,089 ¨C ra바카라사이트r than full-time equivalents ¨C were submitted with reduced outputs: 29 per cent of 바카라사이트 total. Of those, 10,099 ¨C or 18?per cent of all academics submitted ¨C were early career researchers. Ano바카라사이트r 5?per cent of staff submitted reduced outputs, because of maternity, paternity or adoption leave.

The new element of 바카라사이트 REF was 바카라사이트 requirement to submit impact case studies. In total, 6,975 were submitted. In line with 바카라사이트 volume of academics submitted, 바카라사이트 greatest number, 2,040, were submitted to 바카라사이트 social sciences panel.

However, main panel D (arts and humanities) received slightly more than main panel?A and only slightly fewer than panel B, despite submitting substantially fewer academics. This reflects 바카라사이트 fact that humanities departments tend to be smaller than o바카라사이트r departments, and small departments are required to submit a proportionally higher number of case studies.

The results of 바카라사이트 2014 REF will be announced in December.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com