Research Excellence Framework 2029

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK's evaluation system for assessing the quality of research in UK Higher Education institutions (HEIs). It was first conducted in 2014 and again in 2021. The REF is undertaken by a dedicated team on behalf of the four UK higher education funding bodies: Research England, the Scottish Funding Council, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, and the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland.

REF outcomes inform the allocation of around £2bn of block-grant research funding to HEIs each year (based on research quality).

The last REF took place in 2021 (with outcomes published in May 2022). For REF21 Politics & IR (19) was one of 34 ‘Units of Assessment’. The next REF was originally intended to take place in 2028. Following an announcement in December 2023, this date has now been put back to 2029. Planning for REF 2029 is now underway.

 

About REF2029

In June 2023, the REF team announced its high-level design for this next exercise. This included important changes to the model employed for REF2021: 

1. Composition of those included in a Unit of Assessment 

REF 2029 will break from the identification of research outputs with individual researchers submitted to the exercise within their Units of Research. Instead a volume measure of all researchers and research-enabling staff with significant responsibility for research will be calculated as the average FTE within the Unit for eligible staff. Units will be required to submit 2.5x outputs for every 1.0 FTE of volume-contributing staff. There will be no minimum or maximum contribution from any individual within the Unit.

2. Redesign and re-weighting of the elements of assessment, as follows 

  • People, Culture and Environment (25% weighting), replacing the environment element of REF 2014 and 2021, and will be expanded to include an assessment of research culture. 

  • Contribution to knowledge and understanding (50% weighting), broadening the ‘outputs’ element of REF 2014 and 2021. Assessment will continue to be largely based on submitted outputs, but at least 10% of the profile will be based on evidence of broader contributions to discipline. 

  • Engagement and impact (25% weighting), replacing the ‘impact’ elements of REF 2014 and 2021, and combining both impact case studies and an accompanying statement on engagement activity beyond case studies.

 

Planning for REF 2029: responding to the Future Research Assessment Programme (FRAP) 

Our REF response is being led by PSA Vice-President Professor Matt Flinders who set out his thoughts and analysis in these blogs: 

In June 2023, the REF team invited responses to its high-level design for the next assessment exercise. This design and review phase is the Future Research Assessment Programme, known as FRAP. Responses were invited to specific questions on aspects of the design, while noting that many aspects of REF 2029 (including those set out above) were not open for discussion. 

In October 2023, the Political Studies Association issued its response: HERE

 

Initial update on the outcomes from the consultation (published December 2023)

On 7 December the REF team issued a first update on its decisions after the Summer 2023 consultation exercise. In addition to postponing the date of the next REF to 2029, this update noted the following: 

  • HESA data will be used to determine Volume Measure in the manner set out in the recent consultation exercise 

  • Breaking the link between individual staff member and unit submission, including removing minimum and maximum outputs submitted by specific individuals, will go ahead 

  • Further guidance will be issued on the ‘demonstrable and substantive link’ between an eligible output and the submitting institution within the REF period 

  • Outputs sole-authored by PGR students, including PhD theses, will not be eligible for submission, nor will those produced by individuals employed on contracts with no research-related expectations 

  • The overall Unit of Assessment structure for REF 2029 will remain unchanged from REF 2021 

  • The minimum number of Impact Case Studies that an institution can submit per disciplinary submission will be reduced to one, with the removal of the 2* quality threshold.  

 

Open Access requirements for REF2029 

On 18 March 2024, the four UK higher education funding bodies opened a consultation concerning the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 Open Access Policy. The purpose of the REF 2029 Open Access Policy is to outline open access requirements for the exercise.

The ‘policy aims to embed progress in the sector for open access submission for journal publications. It also introduces an open access requirement for longform publications.’ The consultation sought ‘to gather a deeper understanding of sector perspectives on key issues and impacts in relation to our policy proposals.’

The PSA recently responded to a consultation on the REF 2029 Open Access (OA) Policy, which looks to extend open-access requirements to longform publications and to shorten the embargo periods that apply to journal articles. Read the response here. For a comprehensive view of this matter, you can refer to the British Academy's Position Paper on Open Access and the REF.

In August 2024, the REF 2029 team published its early position following this consultation (with a final policy statement expected in later in the year):

  • The implementation date for the new policy will be no earlier than 1 January 2026
  • REF 2021 OA policy submission requirements will continue to apply
  • There will be no longform OA mandate for REF2029.

 

Current timetable for REF2029 (and subject to change) 

  • Summer 2024: Invite nominations for main panel chairs (Main Panel C (Social Sciences));

  • Autumn 2024: Panel Recruitment  

  • Autumn/Winter 2024: Panels meet to develop criteria / Publish Draft Guidance

  • Winter 2024/25: Publish Open Access Policy; Publish final guidance and criteria 

  • 2025: Complete preparation of submission systems 

  • 2026: Final full guidance is set

  • 2028: Submission deadline /Assessment phase begins

  • 2029: Publication of results

 

Panel Recruitment

As expected, the REF 2029 team has kicked off the recruitment process REF 2029 Main Panel Chairs for the main panel chairs with applications being accepted until 26 September 2024. Politics and International Studies (Unit of Assessment 19) comes under the auspices for Main Panel C (Social Sciences).

You can find our more here: REF29 – Applications for Chair of Main Panel C | The Political Studies Association (PSA)

On 14 October 2024, the REF 2029 Team announced the membership of the Research Diversity Advisory Panel (RDAP) and the People and Diversity Advisory Panel (PDAP) (you can see the full membership here: Membership confirmed for REF advisory panels  – REF 2029

Professor Alis Oancea will Chair the REF 2029 Research Diversity Advisory Panel (RDAP).  Alis Oancea is Professor of Philosophy of Education and Research Policy and Social Sciences Division Advocate for Responsible Engagement, Impact and Innovation at the University of Oxford.

Professor Simon Macklin will Chair of the REF 2029 People and Diversity Advisory Panel (PDAP). With 25 years of experience in diversity and inclusion across three countries, Simon has held a variety of senior roles in higher education, most recently as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University for the Creative Arts.

The RDAP will develop strategies to support the equitable recognition of diverse forms of research within REF 2029 development, delivery and assessment.  The PDAP will develop strategies to support recognition of a diversity of roles, careers and career stages within REF 2029 development, delivery, and assessment and to advance equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) throughout REF 2029. 

REF 2029 will deliver an expanded definition of research excellence, recognising the wide range of research, roles and people that are essential to the vitality of the UK’s vibrant research system. The two panels are expected to collaborate as the process continues.

This page has been produced with thanks to the Royal Historical Society. Please contact comms@psa.ac.uk if you have any comments, suggestions for content or queries on these pages.