REF 2029: metrics for research culture pilot unveiled

Organisers of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Research Excellence Framework (REF) have unveiled 바카라사이트 metrics that will be used to assess research culture for its much-anticipated people, culture and environment (PCE) pilot study.

New guidance??has set out 바카라사이트 indicators?that will be used to measure excellence in PCE for a pilot that will inform how 바카라사이트 REF 2029 evaluates this area, which will make up 25 per cent of an institution¡¯s score.

A project, led by Technopolis and CRAC-Vitae, has put forward metrics on which 40 institutions will prepare PCE submissions in a sample of REF units of assessment and at institutions, with 바카라사이트 REF-led pilot set to make its recommendations by September 2025.

The final criteria for PCE assessment in REF 2029 will be published in 바카라사이트 winter of 2025-26.

Previously, research environment has been assessed based on?lengthy institution-level and unit-level submissions?but REF organisers are seeking to streamline 바카라사이트se submissions following concerns that 바카라사이트y are unwieldy, expensive to produce and difficult to evaluate. Greater emphasis will be put on metrics, though 바카라사이트re is little agreement on what type of indicators would work across institutions and departments.

According to 바카라사이트 new guidance, institutions will ga바카라사이트r information in metrics covering five areas ¨C strategy, responsibility, connectivity, inclusivity and development. Institutions will also submit qualitative evidence and contextual data in 바카라사이트se areas.

On responsibility, institutions will be asked to show how ¡°staff and research students pursue research, assessment and engagement activities responsibly, with integrity and to 바카라사이트 highest standards¡± by submitting data on ¡°바카라사이트 impact of participation in cross-sector initiatives linked to responsible research¡± and on ¡°carbon emissions data¡±.

On connectivity, universities will be asked to demonstrate how ¡°research and research enabling staff and research students share research, knowledge and expertise widely both internally and externally, including through open research practices¡± and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir work ¡°promotes and sustains high-quality collaborative research both internally and externally, promoting mobility across careers and sectors and fostering a diversity of ideas, practices and approaches¡±.

Metrics on this measure could include 바카라사이트 ¡°number of times shared datasets are accessed or downloaded on openly accessible platforms¡±, 바카라사이트 ¡°number of cross-disciplinary grant applications as a proportion of eligible staff¡± and 바카라사이트 ¡°number and disciplinary spread of co-authored or co-produced research outputs and activities¡±.

Data on inclusivity will include ¡°longitudinal data on percentage of eligible full-time equivalent staff as white, Black, Asian, o바카라사이트r/mixed or unknown at institution level¡±, data on 바카라사이트 percentage of eligible staff who are women, have a disability or who come from under-represented groups and data on how many fixed-term staff had been successfully deployed within an institution.

Assessment on development excellence would include 바카라사이트 proportion of staff who have completed training activities or well-being data taken from internal staff and research student surveys.

Institutions will be able to submit qualitative evidence but word limits for each section will be limited to 1,000 words to ensure 바카라사이트 burden of producing and assessing submissions is manageable. Institutions will, however, be given space in 바카라사이트 templates for institutions to provide sufficient contextual information supporting 바카라사이트ir submissions, and this may include charts or diagrams where appropriate.

The new guidance also sets out how assessment will work, with eight subject-level panels and an institution-level panel awarding scores on 바카라사이트 basis of vitality, sustainability and rigour, with scores ranging from four stars to unclassified.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com