REF 2028: initial decisions
The Research Services REF 2028 aims to transform research assessment by promoting inclusivity, collaboration, and impactful research aligned with societal needs. Changes in the approach from REF 2021 include institutional and disciplinary-level assessment, emphasizing research culture support, and new assessed narrative elements to provide a broader perspective. The components focus on Contribution to Knowledge and Understanding, Engagement and Impact, and People, Culture, and Environment.
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RESEARCH SERVICES REF 2028: initial decisions June 2023 Dr Anne Mortimer, Research Evaluation Lead, Research Strategy & Policy Unit (anne.mortimer@admin.ox.ac.uk)
RESEARCH SERVICES Purpose of the REF The REF funding bodies have agreed 3 purposes for the exercise: inform the allocation of block-grant research funding to HEIs based on research quality; provide accountability for public investment in research and produce evidence of the benefits of this investment; and provide insights into the health of research in HEIs in the UK. https://www.jisc.ac.uk/future-research-assessment-programme/initial-decisions
RESEARCH SERVICES Rationale of the design of the REF 2028 The changes create an assessment exercise that will underpin: a research system that produces high is open open to all; an inclusive and collaborative inclusive and collaborative research system that supports a diversity diversity of people, ideas, institutions, methodologies, outputs, and activities; and an engaged and impactful engaged and impactful research system that connects research with wider society to bring about positive socio-economic change. high- -quality, rigorous quality, rigorous research that https://www.jisc.ac.uk/future-research-assessment-programme/initial-decisions
RESEARCH SERVICES REF 2028 changes in approach from REF 2021 Shift from assessment at an individual level to an institutional and Shift from assessment at an individual level to an institutional and disciplinary level disciplinary level: Staff volume determined by average of two years of data from HESA staff return determines number of outputs and impact case studies, but no staff list submission Complete decoupling of staff and outputs No individual staff circumstances process New assessed narrative elements to provide a broader view Emphasis on support for research culture
RESEARCH SERVICES REF 2028 components The new assessed elements will be: Contribution to Knowledge and Understanding (50%) Engagement and Impact (25%) People, Culture and Environment (25%) The disciplinary structure (Units of Assessment, or UOAs) are proposed to be the same as for REF 2021.
RESEARCH SERVICES Contribution to element Overall contribution Element Weighting Submission component Outputs at most 90% 45% Contribution to knowledge and understanding 50% Disciplinary-level statement at least 10% 5% Impact case studies 80% for units >40FTE 20% Engagement and Impact 25% Disciplinary-level statement 20% for units >40FTE 5% People, culture and environment Disciplinary-level statement at most 80% 20% 25% Institutional-level statement at least 20% 5%
RESEARCH SERVICES Elements for consultation Initial decisions consultation (summer/autumn 2023): Practical challenges in implementation of the new approach to volume Consequences of output decoupling, and indicators for demonstrating a substantive link between outputs and the submitting institution Any necessary changes to UOA structure Reduction in the number of impact case studies required Effect of proposals on staff with protected characteristics Requirements for Covid mitigations Open access policy consultation (autumn/winter 2023/24) Commissioned exploration of metrics/data indicators (autumn/winter 2023) Consultation on Guidance on Submissions and Panel Criteria (winter 2024/25)
RESEARCH SERVICES Anticipated timeline Autumn/winter 2023 Further decisions on REF 2028 published following consultation Spring 2024 Winter 2024/25 OA policy published Guidance on Submissions and Panel Criteria & Working Methods published Autumn 2025 Staff HESA returns including all REF fields including UOA Autumn 2026 Autumn 2027 Staff HESA returns determining staff volume for REF 2028 Nov 2027 Submission deadline Dec 2028 Results published
RESEARCH SERVICES To contribute to the consultation, get in touch with your divisional REF Contact Any questions? refinfo@admin.ox.ac.uk