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Ready for REF2028? Consultations, Questions and Strategic Support
In many ways the recent publication of the ‘high level’ decisions regarding REF2028 have sounded the starting pistol for departments and institutions as they seek to prepare for the next national research assessment in 2028.
The decisions mark what has been framed as a ‘new approach’ which seeks to reward a broader range of outputs, activities and impacts. The core shift is a move away from the assessment of individuals to an emphasis on how institutions and disciplines contribute to the maintenance and development of a healthy research, development and innovation ecosystem.
The three core elements of the assessment will also be renamed for REF 2028, and their content adjusted to reflect this. The weightings between the three elements will also be rebalanced, as follows:
REF2028 Categories:
People and culture (25% weighting)
This element replaces the environment element of REF 2014 and 2021 and will be expanded to include an assessment of research culture. Evidence to inform assessment of this element will be collected at both institutional level and at the level of disciplinary submissions.
Contribution to knowledge and understanding (50% weighting)
This element expands the outputs element of REF 2014 and 2021. The assessment will continue to be largely based on assessment of submitted outputs. In REF 2028, however, at least 10% of the score will be based on evidence of the broader contributions to the advancement of the discipline.
Engagement and impact (25% weighting)
This element replaces the impact elements of REF 2014 and 2021, although it is similar to the impact element of 2014. Submissions will consist of both impact case studies and an accompanying statement to evidence engagement and impact activity beyond case studies.
Understanding these initial Decisions
These are very much ‘high level’ decisions with the fine detail still be to worked-out, clarified and communicated over the next couple of years. But at a broad level how can this ‘once-in-a-generation moment of change’ – as Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair at Research England, described the changes – be understood?
The simple answer is that in many ways these changes reflect a broader shift in the research, development and innovation ‘ecosystem’ that has been identifiable and relatively clear for several years. The current UKRI Strategic Plan – Transforming Together Tomorrow – reflects this point with its emphasis on absorption, porosity, boundary-spanning structures, novel research infrastructure and the value of different forms of knowledge.
The hallmarks of this evolutionary process, which has itself speeded up in recent years, can be summarised under the headings of connectivity, mobility and leadership.
Connectivity in the sense that there is too much fragmentation within the existing ‘ecosystem’ and few incentives to forge new connections, build bridges or engage in innovative partnerships, especially with potential research users. Anyone who wants to drill down into the detail of the fragmentation challenge would do well to read Sir Paul Nurse’s recent report on the research landscape. Other highly relevant reports and reviews include the Research and Development People and Culture Strategy of 2021, and the Independent Review of Research Bureaucracy.
This explains the emphasis on mobility. If there was one single defining feature of the emergent research funding system it is an explicit ambition to facilitate mobility. This is a critical point. A core question that REF2028 will ask all departments and universities is: How did you facilitate the mobility of people, talent, knowledge and skills across traditional organisational, professional and disciplinary boundaries?
‘A thriving research system requires talented and diverse people and teams’ the REF2028 ‘Initial Decisions’ document notes ‘It is crucial that a future exercise supports the full breadth of research careers and encourages mobility across careers, sectors and nations’. This emphasis on mobility is reflected in recent funding innovations – the ESRC Public Policy Fellowships, the Local Policy and Innovation Partnerships, the new UKRI Creating Opportunities Trial Accelerator Fund, the UKRI Evaluation Development Fund – not to mention the creation of new ‘observatories’, ‘catapults’ and ‘evidence and policy’ centres. The common theme is an emphasis on mobility, and a broad definition of the research community which includes potential research-users.
This introduces a final focus on research leadership which has for too long been a generally overlooked dimension of academic life. Research Leadership Matters as a major ESRC report of June 2020 concluded. As a result, funding streams across UKRI (and beyond) are increasingly emphasising a need to think about leadership as it relates to research (as opposed to more traditional administrative leadership or teaching-focused roles).
Thinking about research leadership – defined as the activity of supporting and facilitating the production of research in an inclusive manner that maximises the scientific quality and social impact(s) of that endeavour) in the social sciences – for staff at all stages of their career, as well as for professional research support staff, is also likely to strengthen the strategic capacity of departments and universities as they ‘get ready for REF’. The recent ESRC tender for a new National Research Leaders Network to support mid-career and senior researchers reflects this point.
Where Next?
The Political Studies Association (PSA) will be supporting members throughout the next REF cycle. It aims to keep members abreast of developments and play a proactive and strategic role in shaping the assessment agenda as the finer details are discussed and agreed. The current timeline for REF2028 is:
- Summer 2023 - Initial decisions consultation. Launch commissioned work on people, culture and environment indicators.
- Autumn 2023 - Initial decisions consultation closes (6 October). Open access consultation. Publish further decisions on REF 2028.
- Winter 2023-24 - Invite nominations for panel members. Appoint panels.
- Spring 2024 - Publish open access requirements. Panels meet to develop criteria.
- Summer to Autumn 2024 - Publish draft guidance and consultation on panel criteria.
- Winter 2024 - Publish final guidance and criteria.
- 2025 - Complete preparation of submission systems.
- 2027 - Submission phase.
- 2028 - Assessment phase.
As a first step, the PSA is consulting with members to produce a disciplinary response to the current consultation. This is focused on the high-level design of REF2028 and the sector will have an opportunity to input in the detailed guidance and panel criteria during 2024.
To help us to do this, we’d welcome your thoughts on the following questions via the brief survey link below
- What do you think about the fact that not all individuals will be required to submit outputs?
- What are your thoughts on the revised categories and weightings?
- In what ways will the proposals affect the bureaucratic demands of REF?
- Are there equality, diversity and inclusion issues that need to be flagged at this early stage?
- Are there likely unintended consequences of the ‘high level’ decisions that need to be raised?
- Have inter-disciplinary concerns received an adequate degree of consideration?
- What are the key questions concerning REF2028 that no one is asking?
Please click on this link to send your response to these questions, or to express your interest in getting involved in this work, by 12.00 on Friday 15 September 2023.
Author:
Professor Matt Flinders
University of Sheffield & PSA Vice-President.
Matt has been asked by the PSA to lead on our response to REF2028.