‘Good progress’ on research excellence framework panel diversity

UK research funders have reported significant progress on improving diversity on the panels that will assess submissions to the 2021 research excellence framework.

Analysis published on 12 August finds that representation of ethnic minorities and women on the influential panels has advanced since the 2014 assessment, with further progress on ethnic minority membership being achieved in the three years since the panels considered the criteria for the 2021 assessment.

The report, produced by funding bodies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, says that “diversity of perspective and experience contributes fundamental insight and value to the work of the REF panels”.

The data show that 11 per cent of panel members are from ethnic minorities, up 4 percentage points since the criteria phase appointments, and 6 percentage points since REF 2014. Minority representation is now in line with ethnic diversity of UK-based professors as a whole, but it falls short of the overall academic population, which is 15 per cent ethnic minority.

Particularly significant progress has been achieved in ethnic minority representation on panel C, which covers the social sciences, with a 13 percentage point increase. On panel D, covering the arts and humanities, there is an 8 percentage point increase.

On gender, 45 per cent of panel members are now female, up from 33 per cent in 2014. This is equivalent to female representation in UK academia as a whole, and significantly better than the professoriate, which is 28 per cent female.

The funders said that the improvements followed a range of measures designed to improve the representativeness of REF panels, including the introduction of fairness training for panel chairs and a requirement for nominating institutions to describe how they had taken account of equality and diversity when selecting candidates.

“This analysis indicates that good progress has been made in a number of areas in maintaining and increasing the representativeness of the panels since the criteria phase of REF 2021,” the report says.

“The data also indicate that there is still more work to be done in future exercises to increase the representation of those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds both in the pool of nominees and in the appointed panel membership.”

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com