Research England welcomes the pause in the development of Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 for a short period to take stock and ensure alignment with the UK government’s priorities and vision for higher education.
REF response
Research England will work closely with colleagues in the devolved funding bodies and engage further with the sector to finalise the approach to REF 2029 in the coming months.
Outcomes of the recently concluded pilot assessment that examined people, culture and environment will be taken into account, and every opportunity will be taken to streamline and reduce burden on the sector.
Research England programme
In parallel, Research England will also be initiating a programme of work during the pause to:
- explore the option of baseline performance in research culture being a condition of funding
- explore options for a twin or multi-track lighter touch approach to assessment for less research-intensive institutions and smaller specialist institutions
- consider how our funding allocation mechanisms in England could be modified to reward collaboration and specialisation, as part of our ongoing review of Strategic Institutional Research Funding
- accelerate current work and thinking about the future of research assessment
Over the autumn, further details on these work areas will be communicated, alongside continued engagement with the sector and its representative bodies.
Taking stock
Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair of Research England, said:
We all strive for a research and innovation system that is dynamic, globally competitive and rooted in excellence. The brief pause in developing REF 2029 will allow us to take stock and really deliver this ambition. I would like to thank those who have invested their time and have contributed to the creation of REF 2029 so far.
Today, we have set out our programme of work that we will be focusing on during the pause, and we look forward to engaging with colleagues in the devolved funding bodies and those from across the sector in the coming months.
