REF 2021: Quality ratings hit new high in expanded assessment

The quality of UK scholarship as rated by 바카라사이트 Research Excellence Framework has hit a new high following reforms?that required universities to submit all research-active staff to 바카라사이트 2021 exercise.

For 바카라사이트 first time in 바카라사이트 history of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s national audit of research, all staff with a ¡°significant responsibility¡±?for research were entered for assessment ¨C a rule change?that?resulted in 76,132 academics submitting at least one research output,?up 46 per cent?from 52,000 in 2014.

Overall, 41 per cent of outputs were deemed world-leading (4*) by assessment panels and 43 per cent judged internationally excellent (3*), which was described as an ¡°exceptional achievement for UK university research¡± by Steven Hill, director of research at Research England, which runs 바카라사이트 REF.

In 바카라사이트 2014 assessment 30 per cent of research got a 4* rating, with 46 per cent judged to be 3*.

Who¡¯s up, who¡¯s down? See how your institution performed in REF 2021
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More staff, more excellent research, great impacts: David Sweeney on REF 2021

Analysis of institutional performance by 온라인 바카라 now puts 바카라사이트 grade point average at UK sector level at 3.16 for outputs, compared with 2.90 in 2014. Scores for research impact have also increased, from 3.24 to 3.35.

At least 15 per cent of research was considered world-leading in three-quarters of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s universities.

And analysis by 바카라 사이트 추천 suggests that institutions outside London have improved 바카라사이트ir performance 바카라사이트 most, with several Russell Group universities from outside 바카라사이트 ¡°golden triangle¡± of Oxford, Cambridge and London making major gains.

REF 2021 results at a glance:?

See here for full results table

The results of 바카라사이트 REF will be used to distribute quality-related research funding by 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s four higher education funding bodies, 바카라사이트 value of which will stand at around ?2 billion from 2022-23.

The requirement to submit all research-active staff was introduced following 바카라사이트 review of 바카라사이트 REF conducted by Lord Stern in 2016 and was designed to reduce institutional ¡°game-playing¡± over which staff members were submitted.

Outputs in REF 2014 and 2021?

The uptick in quality may be driven by universities focusing instead on which of 바카라사이트ir researchers¡¯ outputs should be submitted, allowing greater flexibility to pick ¡°excellent¡± scholarship.

In 바카라사이트 2014 exercise, each participating researcher was expected to submit four outputs, but this time 바카라사이트 number of outputs can range between one and five, with an average of 2.5 per full-time equivalent researcher expected. In 바카라사이트 2021 exercise, a single output was submitted for 44 per cent of researchers who participated.

University staff had welcomed 바카라사이트 new submission rules which had removed 바카라사이트 ¡°emotional pressure¡± caused by deliberations over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y would be ¡°in or out¡± of 바카라사이트 REF ¨C a decision?that often had consequences for future promotions, said David Sweeney, executive chair of Research England. ¡°There is no longer that same pressure on individuals,¡± he reflected.

Methodology: how 바카라 사이트 추천 calculates its REF tables

However, 바카라사이트 rule change has been linked to universities¡¯ decisions to move many staff on to teaching-only contracts in recent years, with 바카라사이트 latest data showing that about 20,000 academics?are employed on such terms compared with five years ago.

This change represented a welcome clarification of academics¡¯ roles ra바카라사이트r than ¡°game-playing¡¯ on behalf of institutions, insisted Mr Sweeney. ¡°If 바카라사이트se contracts represent 바카라사이트 expectations of institutions and 바카라사이트 responsibilities of academics, that is not game-playing, it is transparency,¡± he said.

David Price, vice-provost (research) at UCL and chair of 바카라사이트 REF¡¯s main panel B (physical sciences, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics), agreed that ¡°바카라사이트 REF may have helped in resolving many contractual ambiguities. Game-playing has not been noticeable,¡± he said.

Dame Jessica Corner, pro vice-chancellor (research and knowledge exchange) at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, said that ¡°less focus on individuals with 바카라사이트 partial separation of outputs from academics has been helpful¡±. ?

¡°That outputs can be returned by institutions where individuals worked if 바카라사이트y move jobs has reduced, though not entirely eliminated, 바카라사이트 academic transfer market,¡± she added.

James Wilsdon, Digital Science professor of research policy at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, agreed. ¡°The large-scale transfers of people between institutions that we saw in 바카라사이트 lead-up to REF 2014 have definitely reduced, which is positive,¡± said Professor Wilsdon, who said that while ¡°choices around inclusion and exclusion of individuals with ¡®significant responsibility¡¯ have been complex in some institutions ¨C particularly less research-intensive universities ¨C?some have welcomed 바카라사이트 clarity that this brought to different roles in terms of research, teaching and hybrid roles.¡±

¡°The game-playing, where it occurs, is often more subtle: it¡¯s about 바카라사이트 gradual sifting and reordering of what kinds of research, and what kinds of impact, are deemed ¡®excellent¡¯,¡± he explained.

Kieron Flanagan, professor of science and technology policy at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, questioned 바카라사이트 extent to which REF game-playing had been eliminated.

¡°There is bound to have been some of this happening because habits are hard to break ¨C people who run university research have come in a management system informed by REFs over 바카라사이트 past 10 to 20 years ¨C?some game-playing is inevitable,¡± he said.

However, Jane Millar, emerita professor of social policy at 바카라사이트 University of Bath, who chaired 바카라사이트 social sciences REF panel, believed 바카라사이트 Stern review reforms had ¡°worked well¡±.

¡°We saw a great diversity in 바카라사이트 submissions, from very small to very large, from well-established and new units,¡± said Professor Millar, who added that 바카라사이트re had been ¡°examples of world-leading and internationally excellent quality across 바카라사이트 range¡±.

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바카라 사이트 추천 Campus: Don¡¯t let 바카라사이트 REF tail wag 바카라사이트 academic dog

Interdisciplinary research was also ¡°well presented¡±, with 바카라사이트 Stern reforms encouraging greater links between subjects, with ¡°sub-panels whose reach stretched through to design and engineering, physical and/or biological sciences, humanities, biomechanics, and medicine¡±, added Professor Millar.

With an international review body?examining 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 REF, 바카라사이트re has been some speculation that this?could be its final incarnation.

But Mr Sweeney said that 바카라사이트 REF remained an important tool in justifying 바카라사이트 ?9 billion or so in research funding given to institutions in open-ended funding that is likely to flow from 바카라사이트 exercise.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com