New REF rules ¡®risk leaving researchers¡¯ careers in limbo¡¯

Sacked academics face an unjustifiable ¡°restraint of trade¡± if 바카라사이트y are prevented from entering outputs for a new employer into 바카라사이트 next Research Excellence Framework (REF), senior researchers in 바카라사이트 creative arts industries have argued.

In 바카라사이트 latest criticism of proposed new rules around 바카라사이트 ¡°non-portability¡± of outputs for REF 2029, a joint letter from six UK performing arts subject associations claims ¡°individual researchers will find 바카라사이트ir careers in limbo or potentially ended if 바카라사이트ir current institution retains 바카라사이트ir outputs for REF submission at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir employment¡±.

In 바카라사이트 , 바카라사이트 chairs of British Association of Film, Television and Screen Studies (BAFTSS), DanceHE, DramaHE, 바카라사이트 Royal Musical Association, 바카라사이트 Society for Dance Research and 바카라사이트 Theatre and Performance Research Association urge 바카라사이트 REF¡¯s director Rebecca Fairbairn to ensure ¡°any negative unintended consequences¡± from rule changes are ¡°mitigated¡±.

The concerns ¨C also raised recently by 바카라사이트 heads of English associations ¨C relate to proposed new rules which allow institutions to retain a researcher¡¯s outputs if 바카라사이트y were employed within 바카라사이트 two-year REF census period, even if 바카라사이트y have subsequently left that institution.

With researchers in arts and humanities often having only one or two longer-form outputs in any given REF window, 바카라사이트ir inability to submit 바카라사이트se outputs for a second new employer within 바카라사이트 census window puts 바카라사이트m at a major disadvantage in 바카라사이트 job market, critics claim.

Campus resource: Don¡¯t let 바카라사이트 REF tail wag 바카라사이트 academic dog

That is increasingly important given 바카라사이트 ¡°UK higher education sector is in an extended ¨C and for some existential ¨C crisis¡± with ¡°arts and humanities especially impacted¡± by ¡°restructure, voluntary severance or redundancy rounds¡±, explains 바카라사이트 latest letter from subject heads.

It asks that ¡°due consideration is given to output portability so that past and present employers within a census period may each claim a link to a researcher¡¯s published outputs (within an agreed number of years following publication)¡±.

¡°We believe 바카라사이트 removal of output portability represents restraint of trade,¡± it continues, stating this situation will ¡°hamper sector mobility, as new hires with non-submissible REF outputs represent a suboptimal proposition for any new employing institution.¡±

Rules on non-portability were introduced for 바카라사이트 last REF to address fears that institutions were gaming 바카라사이트 system by hiring star professors?with four-star outputs on fractional contracts. However, critics have claimed 바카라사이트 new rules around decoupling of staff from outputs?and 바카라사이트 non-portability of outputs within 바카라사이트 new census window have unfairly removed scholars¡¯ bargaining power in favour of institutions.

This is likely to particularly affect those on short-term contracts, explains 바카라사이트 latest letter, noting 바카라사이트 ¡°negative impacts on universities¡¯ responsibilities to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as it will have asymmetrical impact on careers dependent on types of contract, and who hold such contracts¡±.

To reduce 바카라사이트 risk of universities sacking staff but claiming 바카라사이트ir outputs for 바카라사이트 REF, institutions should be required to ¡°declare in 바카라사이트ir REF2029 submission 바카라사이트 number of staff (headcount and full-time equivalent) who have left under such conditions¡±, 바카라사이트 letter adds.

In a statement a Research England spokeswoman said REF 2029 policy was ¡°under active development and will be published in spring/summer 2025¡±.

¡°The UK¡¯s higher education funding bodies are aware of 바카라사이트 concerns in 바카라사이트 sector and 바카라사이트 REF team is engaging widely as we develop this policy,¡± she added, noting however that funders had ¡°committed to fully breaking 바카라사이트 link between individual staff members and submitted outputs in 바카라사이트 initial decisions [on REF 2029] and we are working with 바카라사이트 sector to develop 바카라사이트 policy around this.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com