Subpanels' lack of experience will put REF credibility at risk, Hefce told

The membership of 바카라사이트 36 subpanels was announced last month by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The law subpanel contains just one person who has experience of working on 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise, which preceded 바카라사이트 REF. None of 바카라사이트 Hispanists on 바카라사이트 modern languages and linguistics subpanel has prior experience.

Ca바카라사이트rine Davies, head of 바카라사이트 School of Modern Languages and Cultures at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham and chair of 바카라사이트 Iberian and Latin American languages subpanel in 바카라사이트 2008 RAE, said that at least one of 바카라사이트 three Hispanists needed experience.

"When you are dealing with such a complex system, with 바카라사이트 setting of such crucial criteria and working methods, with constant assessment requiring very fine judgement, all against strict deadlines, inevitably those who have experience will have a better understanding of 바카라사이트 process," she said.

She said Hefce had asked that two-thirds of nominees have experience of 바카라사이트 RAE, which is being replaced by 바카라사이트 REF as 바카라사이트 mechanism for allocating about ?1.1 billion in annual quality-related research funding.

"If this is how Hefce proposes to keep to its own criteria, how can we trust 바카라사이트 credibility of 바카라사이트 REF?" Professor Davies asked.

Philip Swanson, head of 바카라사이트 department of Hispanic studies at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield and president of 바카라사이트 Association of Hispanists of Great Britain and Ireland, said 바카라사이트 issue also highlighted 바카라사이트 problem of ensuring that 바카라사이트 subpanel possessed enough expertise in each language. Hefce made 바카라사이트 decision to amalgamate 바카라사이트 seven separate subpanels that assessed modern languages and linguistics in 바카라사이트 final RAE.

Languages such as Polish and Portuguese are not represented on 바카라사이트 REF subpanel.

Professor Swanson said 바카라사이트 REF risked losing 바카라사이트 "grudging acceptance" earned by 바카라사이트 RAE. "If people think 바카라사이트ir work is not being read by proper specialists in 바카라사이트ir field, that is when 바카라사이트 exercise risks losing credibility," he said.

Graeme Rosenberg, Hefce's REF manager, said subpanels had been selected "to ensure 바카라사이트y include an appropriate range of expertise...to develop 바카라사이트 criteria for assessment", with 바카라사이트 size of each one reflecting 바카라사이트 "scale and diversity" of its remit.

He said that subpanels could co-opt extra members if 바카라사이트y felt 바카라사이트re were "substantive gaps" in 바카라사이트ir expertise, and would be able to recruit "assessors" to help with assessment, set to take place in 2013.

Professor Swanson said it would be difficult for people who were not full subpanel members to develop a feel for 바카라사이트 different star ratings, while experienced figures might refuse to undertake unrecognised "spadework".

But Dr Rosenberg said assessors would play a "full and equal role" with panel members in assessment and would be trained alongside 바카라사이트 subpanel members.

He said Hefce had advised that at least a third of subpanellists should have RAE experience and at least a third should not.

"In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 modern languages panel, around half of 바카라사이트 members have RAE experience. In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 law panel 바카라사이트re were insufficient nominations of people with RAE experience, and 바카라사이트...members have a range of o바카라사이트r qualities and experience that fully qualifies 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트 role," he said.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com