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The Research Environment Post 2008

The Research Environment Post 2008. Some Possibilities Professor Peter Gilroy. Advanced Organiser. 2001 - A Reminder 2008 – Some Issues The Bite of Selectivity The REF and HEIs’ Responses Playing Under the REF Stop Press. (1) A Reminder. 2001:

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The Research Environment Post 2008

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  1. The Research Environment Post 2008 Some Possibilities Professor Peter Gilroy

  2. Advanced Organiser • 2001 - A Reminder • 2008 – Some Issues • The Bite of Selectivity • The REF and HEIs’ Responses • Playing Under the REF • Stop Press

  3. (1) A Reminder • 2001: • Ratio of Grade:Funding revealed after the exercise • High selectivity & broken promise • Non-linear funding algorithm

  4. RAE 2001-expectation v reality

  5. Result for UoA 16 Food Science & Technology • 5/11 gain 4-5* • 46% (6) UoAs fall below funding threshold £0 research funding • Approx 20 such departments in UK, so 15 (75%) = £0 research

  6. Result for UoA 50 English L&L • 63/89 gain 4-5* • 29% (26) UoAs fall below funding threshold = £0 research funding

  7. Result for UoA 68 Education • 33/94 UDEs gain 4-5* • 11 did not submit • Some slip from 5-4 • 65% (61) UDEs fall below funding threshold = £0 research funding

  8. (2) 2008 Some Issues:(a) Grades • How will the Quality Profile be Reported? • Example: • This means – success or failure?

  9. 2008 Some Issues:(b) Money

  10. HEFCE QR Four HEIs receive 29% of HEFCE research funds Ten HEIs receive 50% of HEFCE research funds 23 HEIs receive 75% of HEFCE research funds Research Council Funding Three HEIs receive 25% of Research Council funding Eight HEIs receive 50% of Research Council funding 18 HEIs receive 75% of Research Council funding (Sir David Watson, Missenden 2008) (3) Some Issues:Selectivity Already Bites

  11. (Sir David Watson, Missenden 2008)

  12. Daily Telegraph 30 June 2004 • (Sir David Watson, Missenden 2008)

  13. Selectivity Re Education • 61/94 UDEs currently have no QR/RAE 01 Funding (65%) • Only 1 Post-1992 UDE Received any QR/RAE 01 Funding

  14. HEFCE FUNDING: R as % of T+R, 2001/02 (Sir David Watson, Missenden 2008)

  15. HEFCE FUNDING: R as % of T+R, 2001/02 (Sir David Watson, Missenden 2008)

  16. (4) The REF Pre-Consultation • Based on assertions re RAE 08 being: • Unpopular • Expensive • Burdensome • It will measure a narrow set of outputs • Will prevent collaboration • Metrics will be a major problem for social science subjects (& their research councils)

  17. Continued • There will be a greater work load (all outputs required, not just four) • Because of the 8-12 year citation window, a metrics approach will confirm the results of the 2001 RAE • Consequently there would be little significant change regarding funding from 2001

  18. How will HEIs Respond? This will depend on the Type of HEI

  19. Type 1 • Create institutional repositories • Encourage citation clubs • Be very selective in identifying research areas to support from central funds • Direct/manage tightly individuals’ research activity (e.g. which journals to publish in) • Employ a bibliometrics manager

  20. Type 2 • Develop business/enterprise • Work closely with regional agencies and partners • Revise revenue sharing agreements • Manage relatively loosely their enterprising researchers

  21. The Post RAE 2008/REF Research Scene • Research funding alone will not be able to support research activity (other than in a VERY small number of UDEs) • Therefore: • A very small number (20?) of UDEs will be in the select group who will receive QR funding to support their research activity • A number of UDEs will abandon research activity altogether, as they have done already

  22. continued • A significant number of UDEs will follow their university’s strategy and mix-and-match QR and ER/3S income streams to support their research activity • Some may merge/collaborate with HEIs of different research standing • Some may work with local FE colleges as these develop their degree awarding portfolio

  23. (5) What will it be Like to Work in the REF Context? • In the select group life will be very difficult – directed, controlled/managed tightly as the university’s mission narrows, with a great deal to lose • Where research is abandoned altogether life will return to the College of Education days

  24. continued • Where research is sustained by Enterprise/3S activity researchers will have to become more aware of the need to work in an applied, knowledge-transfer driven, way • This will require refocusing of activity to create an academic who has enterprise and research skills

  25. continued • For all, except the small number of Type 1 HEIs and their UDEs REF will become irrelevant & Enterprise funding will become critical

  26. (6) STOP PRESS(24TH April 2008) • HEFCE’s Research Director, Rama Thirunamachandran, leaves HEFCE • REF Consultation analysis released • Implementation of REF to be put back by 12 months

  27. Back to RAE 2008? • The distinction between STEM and non-STEM subjects will not be so clear cut – ‘For all subjects the assessment will include some combination of metrics-based indicators, including bibliometrics where appropriate, as well as input from expert panels.’ (John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.)

  28. U- Turn? • ‘The balance of metrics and expert input will vary according to the subject group’ (DIUS) • ‘What we now seem to have …is peer review informed by metrics’ (Bahram Bekhradnia, HE Policy Institute, THES 24:4:08). • 30th April: RAE Predictor via RAE2008.com

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