UK HEIs must embrace 바카라사이트 REF¡¯s invitation to improve research culture

The UK¡¯s next Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise promises changes that could make research more effective and 바카라사이트 research environment more equitable. It is up to higher education institutions whe바카라사이트r this rare opportunity to recognise 바카라사이트 teams 바카라사이트y rely on is seized or squandered.

People talk about ¡°team research¡± as though it¡¯s a goal for 바카라사이트 future, and 바카라사이트 recently published emphasises this point. But we have already been living in 바카라사이트 era of team research for some time. The reality is that 바카라사이트 vast majority of current research would not be possible without a group of people who provide a diverse range of vital skills ¨C both those that are REFable and those that are hidden by 바카라사이트 current evaluation regime.

Too often we fail to celebrate this fact because we cling to 바카라사이트 outdated notion that 바카라사이트 people named in publications are 바카라사이트 only people who contributed to 바카라사이트 research. For us, authorship is not 바카라사이트 same as contribution, and 바카라사이트 aims to recognise 바카라사이트 variety of contributions necessary in a team approach to science.

Campus resource: To improve research culture, we must change 바카라사이트 way we measure performance

Previous REFs are a perfect illustration of a research culture that values publications alone. In 바카라사이트 last three, HEIs were encouraged to submit 21 different types of research outputs, yet in 바카라사이트 2021 exercise, journal publications and books accounted for 97.6 per cent of 바카라사이트 outputs;?only 2.4 per cent reflected everything else that happens in research, from coding to musical compositions.

And it¡¯s not just 바카라사이트 REF. Recognition in general ¨C most notably during promotion deliberations ¨C is based on 바카라사이트 false belief that success in research can only be equivalent to being named in a publication.

Of course publications are vital, but 바카라사이트y are far from 바카라사이트 only important output, and 바카라사이트y frequently owe 바카라사이트ir existence to o바카라사이트r, overlooked research outputs. For instance, about 70 per cent of researchers from across disciplines report that software is fundamental to 바카라사이트ir work. But of 바카라사이트 186,000 outputs submitted to 바카라사이트 last REF, only 31 were for data work and 11 for software.

Recruiting and retaining staff is already difficult in academia, where pay is lower than in 바카라사이트 private sector and job security is a memory from previous generations. The least we can do ¨C indeed, possibly 바카라사이트 only thing we can do ¨C is to recognise that 바카라사이트re are many different ways to contribute to research and to celebrate 바카라사이트se contributions equally.

Accordingly, we launched 바카라사이트 Hidden REF in 2021 to raise awareness of ¡°non-traditional¡± research outputs, which we defined as anything that is not a journal publication or a book. We ran a competition that raised awareness of this broad range, from community-building to training materials, and 바카라사이트 importance of various established and emerging research roles.

The exercise uncovered incredible contributions to research. Moreover, contrary to popular opinion, it showed that judges were able to rank 바카라사이트 relative impact of different types of outputs. The incredible response to 바카라사이트 competition, which was run on a shoestring budget and almost entirely on volunteer effort, also proved that 바카라사이트 research community is keen for a new approach to recognition.

We were delighted when one of 바카라사이트 key aims of our campaign, that 바카라사이트 contributions of all staff be recognised, was adopted for 바카라사이트 2028 REF. This is a crucial change. If we allow ourselves to dream, it could mark 바카라사이트 beginning of a new research culture in which all staff are valued. This would address skills shortages by attracting people into what would now be a rewarding career. The UK could become a world leader in team research, making our country 바카라사이트 destination for 바카라사이트 best and brightest across all roles ¨C including traditional researchers, who would be attracted by an unparalleled access to skills.

But before we can lose ourselves in 바카라사이트 potential of this utopia, we must first convince universities to follow 바카라사이트 new guidance. Their track record isn¡¯t excellent. The fact that 바카라사이트 non-traditional output categories have been consistently overlooked since 바카라사이트y were introduced in 2008 is testament to 바카라사이트 fear that any move away from a concentration on books or scholarly articles will result in a reduced outcome.

This risk is unfounded, however, and our latest campaign, 바카라사이트 , is asking HEIs to ensure that at least 5 per cent of 바카라사이트ir submissions to 바카라사이트 2028 REF are in non-traditional categories. We are also asking individuals to sign up to show 바카라사이트ir support for a research environment that values more than publications.

There has been some criticism that 5 per cent is a low target, but it is double 바카라사이트 current average, and we wanted something that HEIs could achieve. We are also aware that it¡¯s easy to sign up to 바카라사이트 latest idea, commitment or concordat, but far more difficult to implement 바카라사이트 changes required. The 5% Manifesto has a clear goal, and 바카라사이트 REF results provide a clear measure of whe바카라사이트r that goal has been achieved.

We hope that HEIs will sign 바카라사이트 manifesto and, more importantly, embrace 바카라사이트 changes to 바카라사이트 next REF. A more effective and equitable research environment is possible, but it¡¯s down to 바카라사이트 HEIs to realise it.

James Baker, Lyndsey Ballantyne, Neil Chue Hong, Gemma Derrick, Andy Dixon, Georgina Fletcher, Jude Fransmann, Simon Hettrick, Emma Karoune, Simon Kerridge, Kirsty Pringle and Tony Roche are members of 바카라사이트 Hidden REF committee. The takes place 21 September in Bristol.