REF 2014 Briefing
Professor Edmund Burke
Dr John Rogers
May 2013
This briefing will cover:
• Quality standard set for inclusion in
submissions
• Intended Units of Assessment
• Update on decision making process
• Most importantly, your questions
“The 2014 REF
marks a key
performance
milestone for the
University's overall
Strategic Plan.”
Strategic Objectives for 2014 REF
•
•
•
•
•
•
Upper quartile by overall quality rating
Overall Grade Point Average of 2.85 or higher
At least 20% 4*, 50% 3* and the remainder 2*
Demonstrate research impact (20% of grade)
Demonstrate research environment (15%)
Critical mass: upper quartile by volume in
many areas (at UoA level)
• Increase in SFC quality related funding
In the 2001 RAE, Stirling
was 43rd out of 136 HEIs
and 9th in the second
quartile. In 2008…
Upper quartile cut off
Stirling 56th (of 132);
23rd of 33 in Q2
Second quartile cut off
Why quality matters:
• Exceptionally competitive operating
environment
• Selective policy and funding focus on highest
level of research excellence
• Reputation drives further success:
– Staff and student recruitment
– Investment from funders
– Attraction of partners and collaborators
– Global position and recognition
The importance of 4* in funding
Scenario profiles
Weight
Weighted Average Quality
Weight
Grade Point Average
Funding
League Table
4*
5
15
20
30
3
15
45
60
90
4
20
60
80
120
3*
10
30
50
60
1
10
30
50
60
3
30
90
150
180
2*
45
35
30
10
0
0
0
0
0
2
90
70
60
20
1*
40
20
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
40
20
0
0
100
100
100
100
Sum
25
75
110
150
Sum
180
240
290
320
/100
0.25
0.75
1.10
1.50
/100
1.80
2.40
2.90
3.20
1.00
3.00
4.40
6.00
1.00
1.33
1.61
1.78
Ratio
Plus additional SFC funding for 4* only in 2013-14…
Volume: 2008 RAE by UoA
Cat A
Submitted
(FTE)
Mean
Upper Quartile
Nursing & Midwifery
Agriculture, Veterinary & Food Science
Earth Systems & Environmental Sciences
Computer Sciences & Informatics
Business & Management Studies
Law
Politics & International Studies
Social Work & Social Policy
Psychology
Education
Sports-Related Studies
English Language & Literature
Philosophy
History
Communication, Cultural & Media Studies
16.60
32.90
19.80
10.00
31.90
7.00
6.00
25.80
24.20
20.60
11.60
17.00
11.00
18.50
14.00
17.82
33.85
28.08
22.70
37.09
24.93
21.52
18.28
21.84
20.68
12.83
21.28
13.63
21.22
11.65
23.55
44.63
37.08
28.00
46.12
33.83
28.20
23.78
31.00
23.57
14.55
29.03
16.21
28.90
15.45
Overall
297.33
379.64
494.02
Unit of Assessment
Quality and volume:
How will the sector change?
“Fears that historically low numbers of
researchers will be submitted to the 2014 REF
have abounded ever since the Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills instructed the
Higher Education Funding Council for England, at
the end of 2010, to confine quality-related funding
to ‘internationally excellent research’".
Times Higher Education, 20 Sept 2012
Key decisions
• Senior Management Team considered at
length during February residential meeting
• Unanimous view to focus on quality profile and
reputation
• Critical mass in all UoAs submitted to also
important
• Decisions by University Strategy and Policy
Group (USPG)
Output quality:
The quality of the portfolio of research outputs
presented by a member of eligible staff in order to
meet the standard required for inclusion in a REF
2014 submission is a Grade Point Average (GPA)
of 2.75 or higher.
Units of Assessment
Number
Title
A3
Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy
A4
Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
A6
Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science
B7
Earth Systems and Environmental Science
B11
Computer Science and Informatics
C19
Business and Management Studies
C20
Law
C22
Social Work and Social Policy
C25
Education
C26
Sports and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism
D29
English Language and Literature
D30
History
D32
Philosophy
D36
Communication, Cultural and Media Studies
And possibly
C17
C21
Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology
Politics and International Studies
Decision Making Process
• For inclusion of eligible staff in submissions:
– Governed by Court approved Code of
Practice
– REF Assessment Committee makes
recommendations to the Principal
– Decisions made by Principal, advised by
USPG
– All decisions must be made by 15 November
– In practice, most will be taken earlier
Decision Making Process
• To optimise the submissions made by the
University
– Led by Deputy Principal for Research
– Informed by research reviews
– Ongoing discussion with Heads of School
– Regular discussion by USPG
– Final decisions by Principal, advised by
USPG
Current progress
• Additional research reviews, following on from
2012 exercise, underway
• Initial consideration of all eligible staff by REF
Assessment Committee undertaken (April)
• No recommendations made yet, in order to
ensure best possible information is available to
support the decision-making process
• Update provided by email to all academic staff
on 14 May
Further information
• Individual email communication with academic
staff as process continues
• Full REF information via staff portal (under
both Working at Stirling and Research tabs)
• Email Helpline: ref@stir.ac.uk
Questions?