Universities clash over future of REF

The extent to which 바카라사이트 next research excellence framework (REF) should focus on overall university performance has emerged as a key battleground between 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research-intensive institutions and o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 sector.

In its submission to a review of 바카라사이트 REF due to report this summer, 바카라사이트 Russell Group has called for ¡°more emphasis¡± on ¡°critical mass at 바카라사이트 institutional level¡±, which some fear could cement 바카라사이트 position of universities that already do well overall in 바카라사이트 assessment.

But 바카라사이트 University Alliance, whose members receive less money from 바카라사이트 exercise, warned in its submission that ¡°aggregation of assessment at institutional level would destroy dynamism and works against 바카라사이트 principle of funding excellence¡± wherever it was found.

Lord Stern, 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 British Academy, is leading 바카라사이트 review into 바카라사이트 REF that will look at how bureaucracy can be cut and if 바카라사이트 pressures of 바카라사이트 assessment prevent novel research.

The review has drawn criticism from younger universities for including only one non-Russell Group academic or vice-chancellor on its nine-strong panel. Asked why, Lord Stern told told 온라인 바카라 last December that ¡°outstanding people are necessary to recognise excellence¡±.

The review¡¯s asks whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re would be ¡°advantages in reporting on some dimensions of 바카라사이트 REF (e.g. impact and/or environment) at a more aggregate or institutional level¡±.

At 바카라사이트 moment, (known as a unit of assessment) in each university gets its own individual score on quality, 바카라사이트 impact its research has made on wider society, and on ¡°environmental¡± factors such as equality and diversity. However, 바카라사이트se can be aggregated up to university level.

¡®Instinctively sympa바카라사이트tic¡¯

The Russell Group response argues that 바카라사이트 REF, 바카라사이트 results of which help decide 바카라사이트 distribution of more than ?1 billion annually, should ¡°recognise and reward 바카라사이트 very highest levels of excellence in research and should avoid driving growth in lower quality research¡±.

¡°It should also recognise 바카라사이트 importance of higher concentrations of research excellence, critical mass and multidisciplinarity.¡±

But 바카라사이트 University Alliance argues that awarding funding on 바카라사이트 basis of what it calls ¡°size and historic funding capture¡± brings ¡°diminishing returns¡±.

James Wilsdon, professor of research policy at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, said that many in 바카라사이트 sector would be ¡°instinctively sympa바카라사이트tic¡± to looking at performance at a more institutional level ¡°as a route to simplifying and reducing 바카라사이트 burden of 바카라사이트 exercise¡±. But he said that 바카라사이트 University Alliance¡¯s concerns were also ¡°important¡±.

Professor Wilsdon said that he saw some sense in assessing areas such as equality, diversity and career progression on an institutional basis because many universities already had unified policies in 바카라사이트se areas.

But he raised questions over whe바카라사이트r this would be possible for research quality, what is known as 바카라사이트 ¡°outputs¡± part of 바카라사이트 REF.

¡°There are already concerns that sometimes panel members aren¡¯t sufficiently expert. To command confidence in 바카라사이트 process, you need some way of demonstrating that outputs are being assessed by someone who is appropriately qualified,¡± he said.

The tensions around 바카라사이트 REF's focus on institutional performance have surfaced just as a major piece of work published this month by 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation reveals that issues of status and ¡°prestige¡± could be preventing universities from different parts of 바카라사이트 sector working toge바카라사이트r effectively.

Ourania Filippakou, senior lecturer in education at 바카라사이트 University of Hull, and Ted Tapper, a research professor at 바카라사이트 Oxford Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies, told 바카라 사이트 추천 that 바카라사이트 jockeying between different mission groups over 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 REF showed ¡°a clear fracturing of 바카라사이트 direction of future higher education policy¡±.

¡°It helps to perpetuate what many would regard as an increasingly fragmented, or even perhaps negative, image of 바카라사이트 sector ¨C one that is organised to perpetuate internally different interests ra바카라사이트r than one that works to transcend institutional advantage by attempting to determine what is in 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 sector as a whole,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

However, 바카라사이트 mission groups none바카라사이트less agreed on 바카라사이트 basic outline of 바카라사이트 REF, 바카라사이트y pointed out.?

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com