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REF2014. Pauline Muya Jo Lakey. Contents. What is the REF? Elements of Assessment: Outputs, Environment, Impact REF Timetable Staff eligibility Code of Practice Staff circumstances. What is the REF?. Part of the system of funding HEIs
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REF2014 Pauline Muya Jo Lakey
Contents • What is the REF? • Elements of Assessment: Outputs, Environment, Impact • REF Timetable • Staff eligibility • Code of Practice • Staff circumstances
What is the REF? • Part of the system of funding HEIs • Funding formula requires a measure of research quality • Previously called Research Assessment Exercise (1986 – 2008), now Research Excellence Framework (2014 onwards) • Quality judgements by discipline-based panels of expert peer reviewers • Each unit of assessment awarded quality profile (0 to 4*) • Results translated into funding formula multiplier
Selectivity and Performance • Funding is increasingly selective 1999-2000 - 75% of QR funds to 26 HEIs 2002-2003 - 75% of QR funds to 23 HEIs, 27% QR funds to ‘big four’ HEIs 2012-13 – 30% to big four • Selective funding drives sector performance “in the period since the first RAE in 1986, the effectiveness and productivity of the UK research base has significantly increased” The Role of Selectivity and the Characteristics of Excellence, Evidence Ltd, 2000.
4* 3* 2* 1* u/c 20 25 30 15 10 Overall quality profile: education Quality Level % of Research Activity 10% 70% 20% Research Environment Esteem Indicators Research Outputs 6
Funding the RAE2008 • Funding Councils take profiles and devise a funding formula (each FC uses a different formula and it can change each year) • Formula is adjusted to fit overall funds available • Further performance improvement across the sector • Prioritisation of STEM subjects • Further concentration of resources – islands of excellence volume changes relative quality changes
IOE Funding from RAE2008 • 218.03 FTE entered • 35% 4*, 30% 3*, 25% 2*, 10% 1* • Funding allocated 3:1 in favour of 4*:3*, no funds for 2* and lower • Funding in 2012/13 of £7,854,108
Research Excellence Framework • Selection of outputs from members of “research active” staff • Research environment: grant funding, PGR students, research degrees awarded • New element of Impact • Profiles will be 65% outputs, 15% environment, 20% impact
REF Timetable • Intention to submit: December 2012 • Submit: November 2013 • Results: December 2014 • Funding decision: March 2015 • Funding: August 2015 • Census date 31 October 2013 • Outputs 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2013 • Environment and Impact 1 January 2008 to 31 July 2013 • Data 1 August 2008 to 31 July 2013
Elements of Assessment • Research outputs 65% • Originality, significance and rigour • Environment 15% • Sustainability and vitality • Impact 20% • Significance and reach
Outputs • The sub-panels will assess the quality of submitted research outputs in terms of their ‘originality, significance and rigour’, with reference to international research quality standards • All forms of outputs: articles, books, chapters, exhibitions, performances, compositions, media, reports, patents, software, etc.
Environment • Criteria: • Vitality will be understood as the extent to which a unit provides an encouraging environment for research, has an effective strategy, is engaged with the national and international research and user communities, and is able to attract excellent postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers • Sustainability will be assessed by considering leadership, vision for the future and investment in people and infrastructure and, where appropriate for the subject area, the extent to which activity is supported by a portfolio of research funding
Environment: elements • Data relating to research income and doctoral degrees awarded • Overview – 0%, Panel C gives equal weighting to all other sections
Impact • Two criteria for impact: • how significant or transformative the impacts have been • their reach (how widely the impacts have been felt)
Impact: general guidance • Impact will count for 20% of overall profile • Research conducted at institution • Underpinning research has to be of high quality (deemed ≥2* or originating from a peer-reviewed competitive project) • 2 case-studies up to 14.99 FTE, 1 more every 10 FTE • Research between January 1993 and December 2013 • Impact occurring between January 2008 and July 2013 • Impact statement to describe approach to impact and future strategies (20%) • Assessors from user communities
Staff eligibility • Contract of at least 0.2 FTE • All staff on ‘teaching & research’ or ‘research only’ contracts as per HESA definitions • Independent researchers – usually Grade 8 and above, but some Grade 7 staff will be eligible (i.e. John Adams Fellows) Not eligible if employed to carry out another individual’s research programme rather than as independent researchers in their own right Usually 4 outputs for each staff member submitted
Code of Practice • Institutional practices that ensure the REF submission is transparent, inclusive and consistent • Staff circumstances survey – December 2012 • Standard circumstances (maternity/early career/part-time) • Complex circumstances (case by case) • Inclusion threshold – not yet decided
Clearly defined circumstances: part-time working, secondment, career break
Clearly defined circumstances: maternity, paternity or adoption leave • Individuals may reduce the number of outputs by one, for each discrete period of: • Statutory maternity leave or statutory adoption leave taken substantially during the period 1 January 2008 to 31 October 2013, regardless of the length of the leave • Additional paternity or adoption leave lasting for four months or more, taken substantially during the period 1 January 2008 to 31 October 2013.
Complex circumstances • Circumstances which have impacted on an individual’s ability to work productively throughout the assessment period • Confidential submission via the staff survey • Panel will make decisions about the number of outputs each member of staff needs to submit • Panel will consist of HR, RCS and academic representatives • Appeals panel
IOE Preparations • Internal REF exercise • Reviews over Spring term with feedback April 2013 • Decisions about threshold for inclusion made by Director, advised by Pro-Director, Research and Development and theme leaders • Combined with results of staff survey to determine which staff will be submitted
Any questions? Institute of Education University of London 20 Bedford Way London WC1H 0AL Tel +44 (0)20 7612 6000 Fax +44 (0)20 7612 6126 Email info@ioe.ac.uk Web ioe.ac.uk