The REF was first carried out in 2014, replacing the previous Research Assessment Exercise. The REF is undertaken by the four UK higher education funding bodies.
What is the REF's purpose?
The funding bodies' shared policy aim for research assessment is to secure the continuation of a world-class, dynamic and responsive research base across the full academic spectrum within UK higher education. We expect that this will be achieved through the threefold purpose of the REF:
- To provide accountability for public investment in research and produce evidence of the benefits of this investment.
- To provide benchmarking information and establish reputational yardsticks, for use within the HE sector and for public information.
- To inform the selective allocation of funding for research.
How is the REF carried out?
The REF is a process of expert review, carried out by expert panels for each of the 34 subject-based units of assessment (UOAs), under the guidance of four main panels. Expert panels are made up of senior academics, international members, and research users. For each submission, three distinct elements are assessed: the quality of outputs (e.g. publications, performances, and exhibitions), their impact beyond academia, and the environment that supports research.
The REF2021
In January 2019, following a sector-wide consultation, Research England issued the final guidance documents related to the REF2021 submission. The "Guidance on Submissions" document details how UK universities should make their submissions to REF 2021 and the "Panel criteria and working methods" document describes how the REF 2021 panels will assess this research.
All staff are encouraged to read through the Guidance on Submissions and the Panel Criteria and Working Methods documents to fully understand the requirements for REF2021. Short summaries of the key points for the different elements of REF2021 are available by following the links below:
University of Greenwich Preparations
The University of Greenwich's preparations for REF2021 are led by Prof Javier Bonet (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Enterprise), through the central REF Strategy Working Group, which has the responsibility for overseeing the University's preparations for, and submission to the Research Excellence Framework 2021. The preparations for REF2021 are undertaken through an annual exercise know as GREAT (Greenwich Research Excellence Assessment Trials). Find out more.
Additionally, each institution making a submission is required to develop, document and apply a Code of Practice (CoP) on the identification of staff with significant responsibility for research; determining who is an independent researcher; and the selection of outputs, including approaches to supporting staff with circumstances. The Code of Practice was submitted to the REF team on 7 June 2019, and we are awaiting formal sign-off by the Equality & Diversity Advisory Panel (EDAP) and Research England.