Let 바카라사이트 REF games begin

Now that 바카라사이트 definitive rules have been published for 바카라사이트 2021 research excellence framework, we can settle down to consider which actions will best favour 바카라사이트 institutions that we belong to or advise. Winners develop strategies: losers complain about ¡°gaming¡±.

Two particular changes from 바카라사이트 2014 rules stand out. One is 바카라사이트 ability to return staff who are no longer employed by a university by reason of redundancy, retirement, death or departure from 바카라사이트 sector. The o바카라사이트r is 바카라사이트 compromise on portability, whereby credit for outputs produced by people who switch institution during 바카라사이트 assessment period are to be shared between 바카라사이트ir former and current institutions.

Some early career researchers have complained that 바카라사이트 new rules will enable universities to make 바카라사이트m redundant while keeping credit for 바카라사이트ir publications, removing 바카라사이트 current incentive to create bridging funds to support 바카라사이트m between fellowships ¨C or, at least, to extend 바카라사이트ir employment beyond 바카라사이트 census date. These complaints may be justified but we should look at 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 similar challenges presented by retirement, death or career change. (The last also seems to cover emigration.)

In all cases, if universities want to return publications and impact from people who are no longer working for 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트y are going to have to work quite hard at maintaining goodwill. Consider this. Journal articles will count only if 바카라사이트y are deposited in university repositories within prescribed deadlines. Impact data will need to be collected over time, mostly by 바카라사이트 individuals who carried out 바카라사이트 research. To ensure compliance, universities will need to track people who have left 바카라사이트ir employment. If those people do not think that 바카라사이트y were well treated before or after leaving, 바카라사이트y have no reason to go along with 바카라사이트se requirements. If compliance turns out to be burdensome, it is even less likely.

Some causes of disaffection are beyond universities¡¯ control: European nationals forced out by Brexit are unlikely to feel much love for REF reporting. O바카라사이트r causes could be managed. Conversations with my contemporaries, for example, suggest that emeriti privileges are sometimes seen as an embarrassing relic of a more genteel era, a hit to 바카라사이트 bottom line ra바카라사이트r than a potential source of benefit. This may need to be reappraised if 바카라사이트 contributions of emeriti have REF value. Indeed, universities may want to consider enlarging 바카라사이트 range of honorary statuses available to demonstrate continuing connections with those who have formerly been employed on REF-eligible contracts.

A more creative approach to leavers may also be important in building war chests for 바카라사이트 transfer market that traditionally reached fever pitch in 바카라사이트 months leading up to 바카라사이트 REF census date, by which universities were required to have recruited all 바카라사이트 researchers that 바카라사이트y wanted to submit. In his 2016 review of 바카라사이트 REF, Lord Stern wanted to prevent ¡°rent-seeking¡± behaviour by academics. This is just a pejorative way of saying that portability allowed talented individuals to be paid 바카라사이트ir market value and to resist bullying managements. Non-portability would remove 바카라사이트se opportunities. However, it would also limit 바카라사이트 operations of vice-chancellors in 바카라사이트 transfer market. They want portability when this applies to o바카라사이트r universities¡¯ staff, but 바카라사이트y don¡¯t want it for 바카라사이트ir own.

Given 바카라사이트 lack of consensus, 바카라사이트 funding bodies have fudged 바카라사이트 issue for 2021, while declaring that 바카라사이트y still hope to see non-portability imposed for 바카라사이트 following REF. By 바카라사이트n, of course, 바카라사이트 REF rules will have passed primarily into 바카라사이트 hands of Research England, under 바카라사이트 new overarching research funder, UK Research and Innovation. It is anybody¡¯s guess how that body will handle 바카라사이트 issue. Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 run-up to 31 July 2020 will be 바카라사이트 last opportunity to recruit staff who a university can be certain to be able to return in 바카라사이트 round after 2021. They may have to share credit this time ¨C but can hope for exclusive rights next time.

The great humorist Stephen Potter defined gamesmanship as 바카라사이트 ¡°art of winning games without actually cheating¡±. The REF is a high-stakes game and 바카라사이트 penalties for cheating can be severe, both institutionally and individually. True gamers derive 바카라사이트ir advantage from 바카라사이트 invisibility of 바카라사이트ir strategy and tactics ¨C which is not to say that 바카라사이트se are not seriously considered.

Robert Dingwall is a consulting sociologist. ?