The independent review of the process for assessing university research and allocating public funding has been published by Lord Stern today (28 July 2016), outlining proposals to protect and strengthen the UK’s leadership in world-class research 

President of the British Academy Lord Nicholas Stern was commissioned by the government to carry out the review of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) to ensure future university research funding is allocated more efficiently, offers greater rewards for excellent research and reduces the administrative burden on institutions.

The REF is run every 5 to 6 years and requires UK universities that conduct research to submit their top research papers, demonstrating the impact of their work, for assessment. The results of the REF are then used to inform the allocation of government funding to universities for research.

Stern’s review of the Research Excellence Framework – Building on Success and Learning from Experience sets out proposals including:

• to count all research active staff in the REF but varying the number of pieces they might submit – currently higher education (HE) institutions select the staff that will be included and this innovation will ease pressure and encourage academics to research new areas or on a longer time-scale
• widening and deepening the notion of research
  impact to include influence on public engagement, culture and on teaching, avoiding distortions of research choices and careers
• introducing a new institutional level assessment to foster greater cohesiveness between academics and reward collaboration on interdisciplinary activities

The report also highlights that the REF should continue to support excellence wherever it is found.

Download the full report here.

The PSA is currently working on a response to the review which will be made available via the website in due course.

The British Academy has welcomed the recommendations and published its response to the review here.