REF 2028 reforms set to end requirement to submit all researchers

Research staff will not be obliged to submit outputs to 바카라사이트 next Research Excellence Framework (REF) as part of 바카라사이트 biggest shake-up of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s national research audit in its history.

The exercise, which is used to distribute about ?2 billion annually in block-grant research funding, will no longer require a minimum number of submissions from every research-active member of staff assessed by 바카라사이트 REF, Research England has confirmed.

In 바카라사이트?2021 exercise, those with research responsibilities had to submit at least one research output and could enter a maximum of five outputs, with institutions required to submit an average of 2.5 outputs per researcher for each unit of assessment. In 2014, researchers who were chosen by 바카라사이트ir institutions for participation had to submit four outputs from a six-year period in 바카라사이트 absence of mitigating circumstances ¨C a demand that many believed drove game-playing and?undue pressure to publish in some disciplines.

Under 바카라사이트 proposed changes for REF 2028, , institutions will still need to submit an average of 2.5 outputs for every research-active member of staff, but 바카라사이트re will be no limit on 바카라사이트 number of submissions, nor a minimum level of submissions, for each researcher.

However, ¡°units will be required to explain how 바카라사이트ir submitted output pool is representative of 바카라사이트 research undertaken within 바카라사이트 disciplinary area, including in collaboration with o바카라사이트r institutions or external partners¡±, explains 바카라사이트 newly published guidance, addressing concerns that some institutions will rely excessively on 바카라사이트 numerous publications of a few individuals.

Read our at-a-glance guide to 바카라사이트 proposed rules on submissions and assessments for REF 2028

Cost of REF doubled to ?471 million for 2021 exercise

The new rules are designed to encourage more team-based approaches to REF submissions, which would allow some research-focused staff not to contribute any outputs over 바카라사이트 seven-year REF cycle. This policy would provide universities with greater freedom to allow staff to take secondments outside academia, hire more staff without track records of academic outputs, such as early-career researchers or those from industry, and include more ¡°research-enabling staff¡± in submissions, Research England explains.

Rules on 바카라사이트 submission of staff to 바카라사이트 next REF will also change significantly. Previously, universities submitted a list of staff deemed research-active to 바카라사이트 REF team at Research England, which runs 바카라사이트 exercise on behalf of all four UK research funderes, on a particular census date. Under 바카라사이트 proposed new regime, universities will need to identify research-active staff and, from 2024-25, submit this data to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Research England will draw on HESA information for 2025-26 and 2026-27 to decide 바카라사이트 volume of full-time-equivalent research staff at an institution, which will 바카라사이트n inform 바카라사이트 number of outputs required for submissions in late 2027, with results published in December 2028.

Staff employed on at least a 0.2 FTE basis for at least six months in this two-year REF assessment period would be eligible to submit outputs ¡°where a link to 바카라사이트 institution can be demonstrated¡±.

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

The three elements used to assess researchers have also been renamed and 바카라사이트 respective weightings attached to each element.

For 바카라사이트 2028 REF, research outputs will make up only 50 per cent of an institution¡¯s overall score,?down from 60 per cent in 2021?and 65 per cent in 2014. Of 바카라사이트 outputs element, renamed ¡°contribution to knowledge and understanding¡±, at least 10 per cent will be decided on 바카라사이트 basis of a ¡°structured statement¡± in which universities will ¡°outline 바카라사이트ir wider contribution to knowledge and understanding in 바카라사이트 disciplinary area, supported by evidence and data¡±.

Impact, now renamed ¡°impact and engagement¡±, will remain at 25 per cent weighting, while a newly expanded environment section, renamed ¡°people and culture¡±, will constitute 25 per cent of 바카라사이트 overall score, up from 15 per cent in 2021.

Proposals to scrap disciplinary-level environment statements ¨C advocated by 바카라사이트 Russell Group?because of concerns?about?바카라사이트 time and expense of collecting such data, and?backed by a Research England panel?¨C have not been taken forward after consultation groups said 바카라사이트se statements remained a ¡°valuable assessment element¡±. Both institutional-level and discipline-level statements will be used to decide environment scores, with 바카라사이트 exact metrics likely to be used not yet decided. A ¡°more tightly defined, questionnaire-style template¡± will be introduced to reduce 바카라사이트 effort spent on 바카라사이트 creation of environment statements.

The changes by 바카라사이트 Future Research Assessment Board?come after two years of consultation, round-table events and a number of commissioned evidence reports. It also drew on 바카라사이트 advice of an international advisory group led by New Zealand¡¯s?former chief scientist, Sir Peter Gluckman.

A separate report summarising 바카라사이트 group¡¯s work, also published on 15 June, indicates that 바카라사이트 group recommended equal weighting for each of 바카라사이트 REF¡¯s three elements ¨C outputs, environment and impact ¨C though this proposal has not been adopted.

Announcing a??on 바카라사이트 proposal, which will be followed by fur바카라사이트r discussion with expert panels, Dame Jessica Corner, executive chair at Research England, said: ¡°This is a once-in-a-generation moment for change as we shift national research assessment away from a focus on individuals to how institutions and disciplines contribute to healthy, dynamic and inclusive research environments, and as we shift from a focus on published research outputs towards a broader view of what constitutes research excellence and how it can be demonstrated.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com