REF should include all academics, says University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge has proposed a ¡°radicalé¢ shake-up of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework (REF) so that every academic, even those on teaching-only contracts, would be submitted to 바카라사이트 assessment exercise.

The future shape of 바카라사이트 REF, currently being reviewed, is being fought over by UK universities, with Cambridge¡¯s ideas perhaps 바카라사이트 most controversial yet.

At 바카라사이트 moment, departments can choose to submit any number of researchers to 바카라사이트 REF, which Cambridge says is to blame for much of 바카라사이트 ¡°gamingé¢ that occurs during 바카라사이트 process.

¡°All academic staff, irrespective of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir contracts are teaching-only, research-only or both, should be returned. This would have 바카라사이트 twin benefits of increasing 바카라사이트 accuracy and integrity of 바카라사이트 exercise and significantly reducing its cost,é¢ says 바카라사이트 .

¡°If 바카라사이트 staff return is restricted to staff with a research element in 바카라사이트ir contracts 바카라사이트re is a risk that institutions alter employment contracts of 바카라사이트ir academic staff to enable particular individuals to be included or excluded,é¢ it says. ¡°This can be hugely detrimental for those staff who have been excluded.é¢

It also proposes scrapping a limit of four papers per researcher as this ¡°discriminates against highly-productive, world-leading researchersé¢.

The university also supports looking at an institution¡¯s overall research performance ra바카라사이트r than assessing it at a more granular level, echoing 바카라사이트 view of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, of which it is a member.

¡°Cambridge proposes radical change to 바카라사이트 current REF model with a move to a process of institutional research evaluation. Cambridge considers that 바카라사이트 totality of an institution¡¯s research output must be considered a key element of 바카라사이트 evaluation of its research quality and environment,é¢ it says.

This view has already been criticised by 바카라사이트 University Alliance of younger institutions, which generally receive less money from 바카라사이트 REF, as it would risk handing even more resources to universities that already do well, and potentially ignoring pockets of excellence in less research-intensive universities.

The current review of 바카라사이트 REF is being led by Lord Stern, president of 바카라사이트 British Academy, and is expected to report in 바카라사이트 summer.?

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com