Research Excellence Framework (United Kingdom)
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| Research Excellence Framework (United Kingdom) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Research Excellence Framework |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Established | 2014 |
| Previous | Research Assessment Exercise |
| Administered by | Higher Education Funding Council for England; Research England; United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Research Excellence Framework (United Kingdom) The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a periodic evaluation that assesses the quality of research outputs, impact, and environment in United Kingdom higher education institutions. It influences funding allocations, reputational standings, and strategic planning across universities including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London, London School of Economics, University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, University of Birmingham, King's College London, University of Glasgow, and University of Bristol. Major stakeholders include Higher Education Funding Council for England, Research England, Office for Students, UK Research and Innovation, Scottish Funding Council, Welsh Government, and the Department for Education (United Kingdom).
Overview
The REF evaluates research quality across subject-based units of assessment such as those used by Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Cambridge, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, School of Engineering, University of Manchester, School of Law, University of Edinburgh, Department of Economics, London School of Economics and comparable departments at University of Warwick, University of Leeds, Newcastle University, University of Sheffield, Queen Mary University of London, University of Southampton, Durham University, University of Nottingham, University of Liverpool, University of York, University of Aberdeen, University of St Andrews, Lancaster University, University of Exeter, Cardiff University, University of Dundee, University of Leicester, Birkbeck, University of London, Royal Holloway, University of London, University of Surrey, Heriot-Watt University, University of Strathclyde, Cranfield University, University of Bath, Aston University, Goldsmiths, University of London, University of East Anglia, University of Reading, Swansea University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Sheffield Hallam University, Plymouth University, University of Kent, University of Salford, De Montfort University, University of Brighton, University of Huddersfield, University of Portsmouth, University of Central Lancashire, University of Westminster, University of Westminster, University of Greenwich, Edge Hill University, Bath Spa University, Staffordshire University, Anglia Ruskin University, University of the Arts London to reflect breadth of UK research activity. Panels of international and domestic experts drawn from institutions such as Max Planck Society, French National Centre for Scientific Research, National Institutes of Health (United States), Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stanford University, Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, University of California, Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, University of Toronto, University of Melbourne, University of Tokyo, Peking University, ETH Zurich, Karolinska Institutet, Royal Society, and British Academy adjudicate submissions.
History and Development
The REF succeeded the Research Assessment Exercise series and was first held in 2014 after policy reforms influenced by reviews led by figures associated with House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, Paul Nurse, Dame Julia Higgins, Lord Stern of Brentford and committees advising Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Early trials incorporated lessons from international comparative exercises including exercises organized by National Science Foundation (United States), Australian Research Council, Canadian Research Chairs Program, European Research Council, Humboldt Foundation, Royal Society reviews and national audits such as Research Excellence Framework 2014 planning documents. Subsequent iterations refined criteria under guidance from panels drawn from Academy of Medical Sciences, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and advisors linked to Wellcome Trust, Economic and Social Research Council, Arts and Humanities Research Council, Medical Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
Assessment Methodology
Submissions are structured around research outputs, research impact case studies, and research environment statements. Panels apply quality profiles similar in concept to peer review systems used by Nature Publishing Group, Science (journal), The Lancet, Cell (journal), New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Political Economy, American Economic Review, Modern Language Review and assessment frameworks used by European Research Council reviewers. Outputs include monographs, articles, performances, and exhibitions associated with entities such as Tate Modern, British Museum, Royal Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Society of Literature and specialist journals like The Economic Journal. Impact case studies require evidencing influence beyond academia with examples relating to policy citations in documents from World Health Organization, National Health Service (England), Parliament of the United Kingdom, United Nations, European Commission, NHS England, Home Office (United Kingdom), Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and industrial collaborations with firms like AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Rolls-Royce Holdings, BAE Systems, BP plc and Siemens.
Impact and Uses
REF results determine formulaic funding allocations by bodies such as Research England, Scottish Funding Council, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and influence institutional rankings published by outlets like Times Higher Education, The Guardian, The Times, The Sunday Times, QS World University Rankings, THE World University Rankings and ShanghaiRanking Consultancy. Outcomes guide strategic hiring at institutions including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London, University of Manchester and affect research partnerships with funders like Wellcome Trust, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, European Research Council, UK Research and Innovation and corporate partners such as BP plc and GSK.
Criticisms and Controversies
Critiques reference potential perverse incentives, bureaucratic burden and gaming noted by commentators from University and College Union, Times Higher Education, Guardian (newspaper), BBC, The Independent, Financial Times, and academics affiliated with University of East Anglia, University of York, King's College London, University of Glasgow and University of Warwick. Debates cite alternative models advocated by panels linked to Lord Stern of Brentford and critics comparing metrics to bibliometric systems used by Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Altmetric, Clarivate and ranking methodologies from Times Higher Education. Concerns about regional effects invoke institutions such as Queen's University Belfast, University of Ulster, Swansea University, Cardiff University and Bangor University; disciplinary biases spotlight humanities departments at University of Cambridge, Oxford University Press, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and creative outputs involving Tate Britain and Royal College of Art.
Administration and Governance
Oversight is provided by panels and governance boards linked to Research England, UK Research and Innovation, Higher Education Funding Council for England and policy oversight from Department for Education (United Kingdom), with consultation from sector bodies including Universities UK, GuildHE, Research Councils UK and unions like University and College Union. Technical support and data are coordinated with agencies such as Higher Education Statistics Agency, Office for Students, Digital Science and bibliometric providers including Clarivate, Elsevier, Springer Nature and ProQuest.