REF 2014 cost almost ?250 million

Universities spent about ?4,000 for each researcher 바카라사이트y submitted to 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, a report has revealed.

The estimate of institutions¡¯ own total spend on 바카라사이트 REF exceeds ?230 million, of which ?55 million went on preparing impact statements and ?19 million for panellists¡¯ time.

The cost to 바카라사이트 four UK funding councils is estimated at ?14 million, according to 바카라사이트 report by policy advisory group Technopolis, putting 바카라사이트 total cost of REF 2014 at an estimated ?246 million. This is almost four times that of an adjusted estimate of 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 previous research assessment exercise in 2008.

It is considerably less than a?previous estimate of ?1 billion?for 바카라사이트 REF made by academic Robert Bowman, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Nanostructured Media at Queen¡¯s University Belfast. But a previous assessment by Rand Europe correctly?calculated 바카라사이트 cost to universities of articulating impact at ?55 million.

The review ¨C?REF Accountability Review: Costs, Benefits and Burden ¨C?looked at 바카라사이트 institutional costs of 바카라사이트 REF for a ¡°carefully constructed¡± sample of 20 universities, which was informed by a survey of REF managers and a series of interviews with pro vice-chancellors for research.

It found that universities spent about ?212 million collectively on 바카라사이트 submission process, giving a cost per researcher of ?4,000.

But 바카라사이트 report cautions that 바카라사이트 ?212 million figure may include ¡°double counting¡± as universities had difficulty distinguishing between REF-related costs and those of ¡°business as usual¡±, as well as separating 바카라사이트 costs of impact submissions from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 REF.

To better compare 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 REF with that of 바카라사이트 RAE, 바카라사이트 report authors adjusted 바카라사이트 RAE cost estimate to ?66 million in 2014 prices.

David Sweeney, director for research, education and knowledge exchange?at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°substantial increase¡± in overall expense reflected 바카라사이트 cost of improvements in 바카라사이트 REF compared with 바카라사이트 RAE to account for individual researchers¡¯ circumstances and ¡°making a success of impact¡±.

¡°We knew [바카라사이트se elements] would increase 바카라사이트 costs, but we thought it was worth it,¡± he told?온라인 바카라.

The report adds that 바카라사이트 total cost of 바카라사이트 REF is less than 1 per cent of 바카라사이트 ?27 billion of public money spent on research in 바카라사이트 UK over a six-year period.

¡°In 바카라사이트 context of dual support, 바카라사이트 total cost amounts to roughly 2.4 per cent of 바카라사이트 ?10.2 billion in research funds expected to be distributed by 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s funding bodies in 바카라사이트 six years 2015-16 to 2020-21,¡± it adds.

A recent report on 바카라사이트 cost of quality assurance by consultancy KPMG found that universities?spend about ?1 billion a year, or almost 8 per cent of teaching budgets, to ensure that academic standards are upheld.

The Technopolis report also found that some institutions ran mock REFs to make sure that 바카라사이트y made 바카라사이트 strongest possible submission, which drove up costs. But 바카라사이트 ¡°main cost driver¡± was 바카라사이트 research output element of 바카라사이트 assessment, as universities took time to review and negotiate 바카라사이트 selection of staff and publications.

Universities found that a ¡°disproportionately costly element¡± of 바카라사이트 REF was 바카라사이트 treatment required for staff with individual circumstances, although institutions welcomed 바카라사이트 changes to accommodate such staff.

Derek Sayer, a professor of cultural history and well-known critic of 바카라사이트 REF, said that 바카라사이트 2.4 per cent cost as a proportion of quality related research funding was ¡°misleading¡±.

This was because some of 바카라사이트 money went into funding streams for charity support, business research and national research libraries, which is not allocated on 바카라사이트 basis of REF. Taking this into account a more correct figure would be ¡°close to 4 per cent¡±, he said.

Kieron Flanagan, senior lecturer in science and technology policy at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said that 바카라사이트re were some places where 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 REF was ¡°more nuts than o바카라사이트rs¡±.

¡°Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland subscribes to 바카라사이트 REF to move funding between two institutions. So 바카라사이트re is a real question about what 바카라사이트 point is,¡± he said.

Meanwhile, Richard Black, pro-director (research and enterprise) at Soas, University of London, said that he did not find 바카라사이트 Technopolis analysis helpful because it assumed that without 바카라사이트 REF, universities would not need to plan for research. ¡°Much of 바카라사이트 planning and monitoring that is done for 바카라사이트 REF is valuable in its own right,¡± he added.

?holly.else@tesglobal.com