Research Excellence Framework
Amid concerns about the growing use – and abuse – of quantitative measures in universities, a major new review examines the role of metrics in the assessment of research, from the REF to performance management
Abandoning peer review could lead to never-ending assessment, micromanagement of staff and übergaming, warns Howard Hotson
Complexity of government initiatives to help commercialise university research under scrutiny
Edinburgh principal Sir Tim O’Shea warns such a system would distract from real mission
An Elsevier analysis explores the viability of a ‘smarter and cheaper’ model
Institution may close one of its engineering schools after a 'disappointing result' in the research excellence framework
Universities, and especially the research elite, faced a choice between aiming for highest quality scores and the greatest number of staff submitted
The director of a partnership of research-intensive universities is upbeat about future outlook
LSE pro-director also calls for metrics to measure impact
Findings reveal the total cost to institutions of attempting to articulate impact
Funding gains for smaller universities ‘risks UK research quality’
Informing government policy was the most common kind of impact submitted to the 2014 research excellence framework, a study has found
REF-based distribution of £1.6bn research pot results in some big changes
Dominic Dean has a plan to make future assessment exercises easier, quicker and better
Division as scholars analyse Hefce’s system for dividing £1 billion QR pot
England’s funding council has changed the formula for distributing quality-related research funding following the research excellence framework
The REF’s formal assessment of the impact of academic work was highly controversial in theory: how did it play out in practice?
Sector challenged to share data on REF costs and come up with less ‘disingenuous’ figure than official estimates
The standards of research and teaching would be best protected by department-based reviews, argues Roger Brown
Report finds new measures did make exercise more inclusive but panels differed in numbers of scholars submitted with reduced outputs
Jargon demanded by REF ‘risks isolating universities from rest of society’
Submission patterns reveal how institutions responded to rules
Study finds variations by seniority, subject and institutional mission in scholars’ published opinions on the research excellence framework
REF analysis suggests that new system for allocating funds has ‘no correspondence with excellence in research impact’
Uplift in research quality in main panel A raises fears that funding could be concentrated at a handful of universities
How do rankings shift when institutions are compared on research intensity, which takes into account percentage of staff submitted, rather than on standard GPA alone?
The exercise was robust and positive, says Willy Maley, who found work on the English subpanel to be like ‘a well-run exam board’
The Association of Business Schools has called on the government and funding councils to reverse the decline in funding for management research
Alternative ranking of REF results maps university performance against the proportion of eligible staff submitted.
More academics were employed on teaching-only contracts around the time of the research excellence framework deadline, new figures show
The results of the research excellence framework have triggered claims that London universities are challenging the longstanding dominance of Oxbridge
All the reaction to the research excellence framework as we get it
Rising quality leads to questions about future QR formula
Devolved countries claim proportion of 3* and 4* submissions above average
King’s College London raised its GPA while submitting more staff. Who were the other notable achievers and underachievers?
Problems associated with the system of research assessment would be reduced by a move to annual reviews, Paul Grout argues
Were new research stars born? Who was helped or hurt by impact? Times Higher Education dissects the results by discipline
Some post-92s gain, but traditional research powers dominate 2014 research excellence framework rankings
As the results of the research excellence framework approach, Emma Rees’ sleep-deprived imagination runs riot
The flawed research excellence framework is not a process of peer review in any meaningful sense, argues Derek Sayer, who appealed against his inclusion in the exercise
Richard Black on data manipulation and the problems with multidisciplinary subpanels
Academics’ engagement activities are valuable, says Alison Phipps. But a public profile comes at a price, especially for women who study gender
Research team hopes that predictions will help to clarify the value of metrics in assessment
Ansgar Allen questions the motives of a growing band of champions
Sovietised REF blocks progress. Innovation comes when universities encourage risk-taking, says Andrew Oswald
Academics have internalised research assessment to such a degree that the effects may be irreversible, fears Thomas Harrison
Willetts sees potential in tie-ups with Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong
England’s funding council has been asked to look at whether overseas universities could take part in future research excellence frameworks.
Chair of review into use of metrics suggests REF interval could be cut to once a decade
Non-OA journals acceptable only when they are “the most appropriate publication”
REF and ‘impact agenda’ makes sector look at collaborations with extra interest, scholars say
Does research assessment discriminate against female academics? asks Barbara Graziosi
Research heads and other university staff on the burdens of submitting to the inaugural research excellence framework
Fewer outputs in assessment exercise as analysis of submission data reveals impact of new criteria
Kevin Fong’s method to raise present standards
Fears that universities would be more selective about who they submitted to the 2014 research excellence framework have proved unfounded.
HESA announces publication date for data on number of researchers eligible for submission
THE straw poll shows efforts to lighten load have backfired
Greater selectivity over future research excellence framework submissions urged under tougher funding regime
Reassurance and concerns stated over new framework’s requirements
