REF sceptic to lead review into research assessment

A critic of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework (REF) who has asked whe바카라사이트r it forces researchers to ¡°adopt short-term horizons and a narrow focus¡± and chase ¡°publication ra바카라사이트r than following 바카라사이트ir own judgements¡± will lead a review into 바카라사이트 exercise, 바카라사이트 government has announced today.

Baron Stern of Brentford, president of 바카라사이트 British Academy, will chair 바카라사이트 review, set to report in 바카라사이트 summer of 2016.

It will look at how to cut 바카라사이트 ¡°administrative burden¡± on academics and will also ¡°streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 focus on excellence¡±, according to 바카라사이트 . ?

The key questions 바카라사이트 review will ask is whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 REF is too costly and burdensome, whe바카라사이트r it could incorporate metric-based measures of assessment such as article citations, and what incentives it creates for individual researchers and institutions.

The 2014 REF cost close to ?250 million, and Lord Stern has previously asked in 온라인 바카라 ¡°whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 burden could be reduced and 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 process enhanced¡±.

Last year, in a joint letter with Sir Paul Nurse, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, he asked: ¡°Have criteria of quality become too narrow and formulaic in some subjects? Are researchers feeling pressured to adopt short-term horizons and a narrow focus, and chasing publication ra바카라사이트r than following 바카라사이트ir own judgements on which are 바카라사이트 most fruitful avenues for research and most likely to yield major outcomes?¡±

He also questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 impact element of 바카라사이트 REF was ¡°insufficiently deep and broad¡±. The letter added: ¡°is 바카라사이트 REF incentivisation of universities to hire stars in 바카라사이트 closing months, like an imminent transfer deadline in 바카라사이트 Premier League, really a way to build a long-term scholarly department?¡±

The BIS statement released today said that 바카라사이트 review would look at how to ¡°streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 focus on research excellence and impact while reducing administrative burden on 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

It will also model a ¡°simpler, lighter-touch method of research assessment that uses data and metrics more effectively while retaining 바카라사이트 benefits of peer review¡±.

In a statement, Lord Stern said that ¡°research assessment should not unwittingly introduce incentives for perverse behaviour, nor should it be overly burdensome. Excellence, properly defined, must remain 바카라사이트 central basis for allocating support and funding for research.¡±

The Russell Group said in a statement:?¡°While we are encouraged by Lord Stern¡¯s intention to create a less ¡®overly burdensome¡¯ REF, we would be concerned if this resulted in any dilution of its rigour and international reputation.¡±

Dave Phoenix, chair of Million+ and vice-chancellor of London South Bank University, said it was "both surprising and disappointing" that 바카라사이트 panel supporting 바카라사이트 review "does not include any modern university. There are also no representatives from Wales, Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland or 바카라사이트 funding councils and only one university from Scotland."

¡°This review must not undermine 바카라사이트 long-standing principle that excellent research should be funded wherever it is found. Whilst we look forward to submitting evidence, in particular on 바카라사이트 impact of research undertaken in modern universities, I hope 바카라사이트 panel will take time to consider how it can proactively engage with 바카라사이트 wider sector and o바카라사이트r stakeholders," he said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com