News

Following a pilot of the software in the Autumn 2019, the system for collecting REF submission data was launched on Monday 17 February.  The current release of the system will allow HEIs to enter data in all REF submission forms, in advance of the submission deadline in November 2020.  News of the system launch included an letter to Heads of instit…

All HEIs intending to participate in REF2021 were required to complete the survey to provide details about their intended submissions.  The aim of the survey was to enable the Research England REF team and the REF panels to plan and prepare for the assessment phase of the exercise.  The panels will use the information to assess the anticipated rang…

Following assessment, Research England formally accepted the University's institutional Code of Practice for REF2021 on 8th November 2019. The Code of Practice has been prepared to meet the published requirements as set out in the REF 2021 CoP Guidance (REF 2019/03).  The Code sets out the procedures that must be used by Unit of Assessment (UoA) Co…

Applications are now open for the Academic Contingency Fund and are invited for the following deadlines:14th June 201931st July 201915th November 2019To learn more about the fund and how to apply, please visit the Academic Contingency Fund page.

Extended: REF2021 Consultation on Code of Practice  8 – 31 March 2019As part of its preparations for REF2021 the University is required by Research England to develop a Code of Practice. The Code of Practice frames the University’s decision-making processes for REF2021 within the context of the principles of equality and diversity and all relevant …

The UK’s four higher education (HE) funding bodies have published the key documents that provide guidance to UK universities when submitting their research to the next Research Excellence Framework, REF 2021.To accompany the final guidance and criteria for REF 2021, the REF Steering Group has set out its rationale relating to decisions on some of t…

The University's Central REF Team has launched a regular newsletter to UoA which aims to highlight the steps required and the support available to help each UoA develop their best possible return. If you would like to receive the newsletter, please subscribe. Previous issues are archived on our newsletter archive page. 

The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is noon, Thursday 1st November 2018. Full details are available here.The four UK HE funding bodies are seeking expressions of interest for membership of the REF Institutional Environment Pilot Panel. The pilot will review institutional-level environment statements submitted in REF 2021, to inform …

The University response to the Research England consultation on the REF2021 Guidance on Submissions and Panel Criteria and Working Methods can be downloaded from here.  With thanks to all those who contributed feedback.  Final guidance is due to be published by Research England in January 2019.

Research England have now published the Draft Guidance on Submissions for REF2021 and launced a consultation inviting all those affected by the REF to contribute using an online form.In addition to the above, a consultation on the Draft Panel Criteria and Working Methods for the REF process has also been launched.In both cases, the consultation wil…

Following feedback from the sector, the initial threshold for impact case studies will be increased to 20 FTE (from 15 FTE). Submissions will therefore include a total of one case study, plus one further case study per up to 20 FTE staff returned for the first 20 FTE, after which one further case study will be required per up to 15 FTE. Further det…

The four UK Higher Education Funding Bodies have announced the appointment of the chairs of the 34 sub-panels for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021. The chairs have been appointed following an open application process.The key role of each sub-panel chair is to lead their sub-paneI in developing criteria for the assessment and in consiste…

Following the release of the REF 2021 publication ‘Decisions on staff and outputs’, the HEFCE REF team have put together a list of frequently asked questions which will be added to as the exercise progresses.These can be found here http://www.ref.ac.uk/about/faqs/

The publication ‘Decisions on staff and outputs’, together with the ‘Initial decisions on the Research Excellence Framework 2021' published in September 2017, sets out the broad framework for REF 2021 following the independent review of the REF in 2016, led by Lord Stern.This document sets out the funding bodies’ decisions on the submission of staf…

Applications are invited for up to 23 experienced research professionals to serve on the panel secretariat to support the main and sub-panels. It is intended that the appointments will comprise:Up to ten panel advisers to provide high level procedural guidance to one main panel and a group of sub-panels.Up to thirteen panel secretaries to provide …