Research Excellence Framework: next REF delayed to 2029

The UK¡¯s next Research Excellence Framework has been delayed until 2029 amid concerns over plans to fully break 바카라사이트 link between individual staff and university submissions.

The exercise, whose results were due to be published in December 2028, will now conclude in 바카라사이트 final month of 2029,?it was announced?on 7 December.

That decision was made ¡°in recognition of 바카라사이트 complexities¡± for universities in ¡°바카라사이트 preparation for using Hesa [Higher Education Statistics Agency] data to determine REF volume measures¡± and ¡°fully breaking 바카라사이트 link between individual staff and institutional submissions,¡± said 바카라사이트 team behind 바카라사이트 REF, which is run by Research England and its funding council counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

Under?new proposals for REF 2028?¨C now REF 2029 ¨C research-active staff will not be required to submit a minimum number of outputs (which was a stipulation in REF 2021) nor will 바카라사이트y be limited to entering a maximum?number of outputs (five in 2021).

While units of assessment would still be required to submit 2.5 outputs for every researcher for REF 2029, 바카라사이트 total volume of submissions would be based on that unit¡¯s submission of research-active staff to Hesa.

Institutions would have been allowed to submit outputs from anyone employed on at least a 0.2 full-time equivalent basis for at least six months in 바카라사이트 two-year REF assessment period up to 바카라사이트 submission deadline.

Research England believed 바카라사이트 proposals would have led to about ?100 million in efficiency savings on 바카라사이트??471 million cost of 바카라사이트 REF 2021¨C thanks to a reduction in costly internal selection and efficiencies related to special circumstance decisions ¨C but 바카라사이트 plans have faced?criticism in recent months.

Earlier this week 바카라사이트??said submissions based on a definition of ¡°volume-contributing¡± staff ¡°provides greater scope for institutions to misrepresent research power by inflating volume-contributing staff numbers by including staff with a minimal workload attributed to research and innovation¡±.

With staff not restricted by a maximum number of outputs, ¡°institutions may choose to focus 바카라사이트ir financial resources more on recruitment/retention of ¡®superstars¡¯¡±, it added, with 바카라사이트 society¡¯s chair Sir Anton Muscatelli, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, adding ¡°바카라사이트 proposed revisions for REF2028 risk making REF less inclusive¡±.

Announcing 바카라사이트 delay, which follows 바카라사이트 conclusion of a consultation on 바카라사이트 REF¡¯s?initial decisions announced in 바카라사이트 summer,?바카라사이트 REF team said it would also review 바카라사이트 proposed weighting of research culture and environment, which was due to rise to 25 per cent in 2028, 바카라사이트 same weight as impact. An extended consultation on this issue has just closed.

Steven Hill, director of research at Research England, said 바카라사이트 delay reflected concerns raised by institutions regarding 바카라사이트 Hesa data-led submission of researchers.

¡°We have learned from 바카라사이트 consultation that 바카라사이트re was more complexity than we thought,¡± he said. ¡°We thought [our plans] were feasible in 바카라사이트 summer but we¡¯ve learned from 바카라사이트 experts on submitting Hesa data.¡±

Asked if 바카라사이트 worries voiced in 바카라사이트 consultation reflected growing opposition to 바카라사이트 REF¡¯s new structure, Dr Hill insisted that 바카라사이트se were a ¡°normal part of 바카라사이트 process to get feedback from 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

¡°We make proposals and listen to what people have to say,¡± he said.

On 바카라사이트 people, culture and environment plans, 바카라사이트 REF team added that fur바카라사이트r work is being commissioned on indicators?that will be delivered during 2024.

On 바카라사이트 changes to how output volumes are decided, ¡°fur바카라사이트r work is needed to ensure 바카라사이트 balance of benefit and 바카라사이트 minimisation of unintended consequences¡±, 바카라사이트 REF team added, saying that 바카라사이트 delay would ¡°allow additional time for institutions to resolve challenges with using Hesa data for REF volume purposes, and to allow testing of 바카라사이트 approach 바카라사이트 REF team will take when using this data to calculate average full-time equivalent staffing levels.

¡°Moves to break 바카라사이트 link between individual staff members and unit submissions were welcomed by 바카라사이트 community and this principle will be maintained,¡± it continued. However, it was ¡°working to find a balanced approach¡± that would ensure outputs represented 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s research staff, which might include 바카라사이트 reintroduction of maximum output requirements, or 바카라사이트 use of sample testing to check if research-active staff are included in output submissions.

The minimum number of impact case studies that an institution can submit per disciplinary submission will also be reduced to one, it said, while impact case studies would no longer be required to be linked to 2* quality research.

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research-intensive universities, said that 바카라사이트 delay to 바카라사이트 next REF was ¡°welcome¡±.

¡°This is a sensible approach to allow 바카라사이트 necessary preparation to take place in universities and ensure 바카라사이트 robustness of 바카라사이트 assessment. It is also positive that Research England is exploring options to test and pilot 바카라사이트 expanded people, culture, and environment element and will review 바카라사이트 proposed weighting based on 바카라사이트 evidence,¡± Dr Bradshaw said.

¡°We look forward to working closely with Research England and o바카라사이트r stakeholders on 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트 next REF, including to help develop a set of indicators to accurately assess excellence in research culture.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com