Research England has published key documents in planning for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.
Drafts of the Guidance on Submissions and Panel Criteria and Working Methods have been published for consultation within the sector, with institutional responses required by 15 October 2018. Together they describe comprehensively what information will be expected within REF submissions and how the panels will assess them.
The Guidance on Submissions provides the framework for the exercise with regard to eligibility, procedures and data requirements.
The Panel Criteria and Working Methods provides an overview of the panels and the Units of Assessment whilst also providing information about how the panels will assess the submissions in each category: Outputs, Impact and Environment.
Key changes since 2014 include:
- All staff with significant responsibility for research will have at least one (and a maximum of five) of their outputs returned to REF
- The impact section which now consists solely of impact case studies is being given a greater weighting from 20 (in 2014) to 25%
- The environment template incorporates new information about the strategy and support for enabling research and impact, including on unit level approaches to open research, collaboration and commitment to equality and diversity
In addition, draft guidance for institutions on producing a Code of Practice for REF has also been issued. The University will use this to draw up a Code of Practice on the principles and associated working practices that will govern our REF submission.
Outlining how we identify staff with significant responsibility for research, determine who is an independent researcher and select outputs, it will demonstrate how these decisions are made in a fair and transparent manner, avoiding discrimination and promoting equality and diversity.
Our Code of Practice will also be developed in consultation with staff with a copy to be submitted to the Equality and Diversity Panel (EDAP) for approval by 9 June 2019.
Faculties will be facilitating consultation responses over the coming months, with contributions welcome from all staff.
- HLS will be holding an open meeting on 18 September which may be booked via Eventbrite.
- HSS has asked School Associate Deans and Unit Leads to co-ordinate responses – please contact them with any comments. The deadline for this to be returned to APVC Research, Professor Georgina Endfield is 12 September. A summary of all feedback will be discussed as part of the HSS Faculty Forum on 26 September.
- FSE has invited responses from all staff which should be returned to Steph Dolben on 18 September.
For further information please contact your local Research and Impact Office or Bob Cooney in Research Policy.