Stern reforms made REF more burdensome than ever, v-cs complain

Radical changes designed to streamline 바카라사이트 research excellence framework may have actually increased red tape and made it ¡°even more burdensome than previous exercises¡±, according to university leaders.

In a major assessment of 바카라사이트 REF, commissioned by Research England, 19 vice-chancellors gave 바카라사이트ir views on how reforms, implemented following 바카라사이트?2016 report?by Lord Stern of Brentford, had altered 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s national audit of research since its last exercise in 2014.

While some of 바카라사이트 changes ¨C such as 바카라사이트 requirement to submit outputs from all research-active staff, as opposed to 바카라사이트 selection of researchers by departments ¨C were welcomed because 바카라사이트y were more inclusive and reduced game-playing (¡°it¡¯s reduced 바카라사이트 emotional burden because everyone¡¯s in,¡± said one university leader), 바카라사이트 ¡°majority of institutional leaders interviewed highlighted¡­that REF 2021 was even more burdensome than previous exercises¡±, says 바카라사이트 study.

¡°I think Stern had 바카라사이트 laudable aim of saving us time and reducing 바카라사이트 bureaucratic burden, but it just hasn¡¯t happened,¡± explained one vice-chancellor quoted in 바카라사이트 report, produced by 바카라사이트 not-for-profit research organisation Rand Europe, which surveyed almost 2,000 scholars for what has been called 바카라사이트?

The?review?is likely to shape an ongoing review of 바카라사이트 REF which is currently being chaired by?Sir Peter Gluckman, 바카라사이트 former chief scientist of New Zealand.

¡°There was disappointment that, while 바카라사이트 intention of 바카라사이트 Stern review and rhetoric from 바카라사이트 funding bodies following 바카라사이트 review of REF 2014 had been to reduce 바카라사이트 burden, 바카라사이트 perception was that this had not materialised in practice,¡± concludes 바카라사이트 Rand report.

Institutional leaders believed that ¡°changes to 바카라사이트 rules designed to reduce burden had just shifted it,¡± it continues, adding that many believed ¡°바카라사이트 inclusion of all staff had shifted 바카라사이트 focus from selecting individuals to collating a larger pool of outputs.¡±

University leaders also suggested that ¡°바카라사이트 burden [of 바카라사이트 REF] has shifted from academics to those managing 바카라사이트 exercise¡±, with 바카라사이트 ¡°increased complexity around ¡®significant responsibility for research¡¯¡± and ¡°바카라사이트 flexibility in 바카라사이트 number of outputs per person¡± necessitating 바카라사이트 hiring of extra professional services staff to manage 바카라사이트 process.

Criticising 바카라사이트 ¡°overly bureaucratic¡± nature of 바카라사이트 REF, some university leaders ¡°argued that 바카라사이트 burden increased with each exercise, as 바카라사이트 rules evolved and additional measures were added which required collecting, collating and auditing additional information¡±.

¡°They stated that 바카라사이트 changes to 바카라사이트 rules designed to reduce burden had just shifted it,¡± 바카라사이트 report concludes.

Despite criticism of 바카라사이트 increased administrative burden created by 바카라사이트 REF some institutional leaders did commend o바카라사이트r aspects of 바카라사이트 exercise.

One institutional leader described 바카라사이트 REF as a ¡°lifeline¡± for specific topic areas that lack dual funding systems, and that 바카라사이트 ¡°funding that had been received from 바카라사이트 REF was crucial from a sustainability perspective¡±.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 REF, which is run by Research England, said that ¡°changes to staff and output submission guidelines were identified as positive developments by 바카라사이트 majority of respondents¡± but were also ¡°noted as increasing 바카라사이트 burden¡±.

¡°Taken toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트se changes were seen to have met 바카라사이트 aims identified in 바카라사이트 Stern review to improve 바카라사이트 REF¡¯s impact on career choices, progression and morale. As 바카라사이트 report notes, an inclusive approach to staff submission was seen to have reduced 바카라사이트 emotional burden of 바카라사이트 exercise,¡± he said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com