Research Excellence Framework
Simpler options are imperfect but perhaps no more so than the panels’ unavoidably cursory ‘peer review’ of submissions, says Dorothy Bishop
In year before REF census, at a handful of institutions more than two-thirds of staff were reclassified
The focus of research evaluation on papers and grants excludes far too many vital contributions. We must change that, says Simon Hettrick
Rama Thirunamachandran says metrics could be effectively used to assess quality for many disciplines
Merging metrics for the REF, KEF and TEF would free up time for academics to become researchers once again, says Robert MacIntosh
More than 76,000 academics at 157 universities participating in research evaluation
Academics say its ‘unethical’ for universities to profit from work done by researchers who have since lost their jobs
No national delay to UK research audit, but Research England to consider granting more time for universities in emergency circumstances
Universities express concern about diversion of clinical academic staff to front-line services and impact of lockdown
Research excellence framework submission deadline still set for 31 March
Despite a pandemic-induced pause in March, research funders have concluded that submissions are ‘broadly on track’ and will not push deadline back again
Ministers’ eagerness to launch yet another review when so many others remain unpublished is testing the patience of universities, says Andrew McRae
Minister’s attack on academic publication culture suggests a move towards more holistic and team-based assessments of excellence, say experts
Science minister Amanda Solloway announces review of UK’s main research assessment exercise
Some staff whose work has been disrupted by pandemic can be excluded, and leeway on publication deadlines also introduced
UKRI says research organisations will have ‘greater financial incentive’ to invest in supporting scholars
Insistence on ‘excellent’ research is commonplace, but Europe’s biggest funders warn that it can damage integrity and foster ruthless competition when poorly defined
Manchester v-c also calls for rethink on REF and predicts UK will not join next EU research programme
Research Excellence Framework 2021 put on hold to allow universities to focus research efforts on virus battle
Both are too resource-intensive to be sustainable during this crisis, and their objectives can be achieved through other measures, argues Dorothy Bishop
Latest data show about a quarter of universities now have a fifth of full-time academics classed as teaching only
Consulting citation data would ameliorate the all-too-human shortcomings of departmental review, says a Russell Group professor
Big increase would represent less than three-quarters of eligible headcount suggested by official data
As we enter REF submission year, Nicholas Stern and David Sweeney urge universities to broaden their conception of a good submission
Oxford, Cambridge and UCL have been the big winners from changes to formula used to allocate quality-related research funding, analysis shows
Former universities minister says applied science is neglected as researchers chase publications for research excellence framework
More account must be taken of pregnancy, assisted fertility and miscarriage, say Christina Hellmich and Marina Della Giusta
Report for Research England warns assessment may be constraining academics' publishing options
‘Pockets of excellence’ in non-Russell Group institutions could be emptied, some fear
With such wide disagreements in grading, the research excellence framework’s gravity for careers is unjustifiable, says Philip Moriarty
Nearly one in five respondents to four-campus study said they feared role change if they underperformed
Liverpool UCU members supported strike action, but vote failed to meet turnout threshold
The UK’s research excellence framework is slow, expensive and disruptive. The time and technology is ripe for a better alternative, says James Tooley
Implementing the mandate for open access monographs will be complex but that is the price of ‘being the leader’, says Cameron Neylon
Russell Group university is on course for UK’s first industrial action linked to 2021 research excellence framework, says union
As Brexit reaches fever pitch, who knows what damage the 2028 research excellence framework might reveal
Birkbeck is first institution to say it does not want to take credit for work of academics who left on bad terms
Taking a more flexible approach to output numbers is a welcome development for REF 2021 but the challenge remains to use metrics in a responsible way, says David Price
Funding councils acknowledge that policy U-turn may have 'unintended consequences for individuals'
Oxford academic says increasing work pressures and time constraints mean practice’s future is at risk
Forcing academics on to teaching-only contracts based on flawed assessments of their research is ruining careers, an anonymous academic says
Australia’s move to performance-based funding must be better thought through than England’s TEF, say Gwilym Croucher and Kenneth Moore
Spike in severance payments in Russell Group may be sign of attempt to shed ‘underperforming’ academics
Oxford’s Dorothy Bishop says spread of funding would be largely unchanged
Data company beats rival Elsevier, which provided indicators for 2014 assessment
Institutions face ‘never-ending rollercoaster’ of assessment, conference hears
The relaxation of the research excellence framework’s submission rules could see research-intensive universities clustered on near-maximum scores, warms Dominic Dean
Well-paid professors who led their departments to success in the 2014 research excellence framework won higher salaries and will be even more valued in 2021, say researchers
The research excellence framework’s reliance on hasty peer review by generalists limits sample size and accuracy, three academics argue
The UK’s new research mega-body has huge power to tackle long-standing inequalities, says its new diversity tsar Jennifer Rubin
Union complains that early career academics have been told they must publish at least one 3* paper every 18 months ahead of 2021 assessment
‘REF season’ is under way and staff who support the development of impact case studies need to consider their tactics. Chris Hewson offers guidance based on his own experience
New rules for staff eligibility designed to make compliance easier are in fact more complicated than before, academics warn
Proposals to extend open access requirements to include all long-form works beyond REF 2021 divide opinion
While majority of outputs now meet requirements, some institutions and disciplines are doing better than others
A home-grown alternative to the research assessment exercise would better reflect local practice and sit better with the special administrative region’s new political reality, says Michael O’Sullivan
We are right to celebrate the contributions that research makes to society, but why don’t we talk more about the costs? asks Rosa Freedman
Scholarly body warns mandate could ‘undermine the UK’s place in the global research community’
Better recognition of the wider social benefits of both teaching and research would help universities regain public goodwill, says Nick Petford
Concerns over cost and impact of proposals can be overcome, say scholars