The Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) at SOAS
Last July HEFCE released the Assessment Framework and Guidance on Submissions. While we are still waiting for the publication of the Panel Criteria and Working Methods (due out in January 2012), preparations of the REF 2014 at SOAS are progressing well. At this stage, SOAS will be making 10 submissions to the following sub-panels. Multiple submissions for some of them are being considered:
- Business and Management Studies (Unit of Assessment 19)
- Law (UoA 20)
- Politics and International Studies (UoA 21)
- Anthropology and Development Studies (UoA 24)
- Area Studies (UoA 27)
- Modern Languages and Linguistics (UoA 28)
- History (UoA 30)
- Theology and Religious Studies (UoA 33)
- Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory (UoA 34)
- Music (UoA 35)
Every member of academic staff at SOAS submitted to the REF 2014 will be entered for one or other of those units of assessment. However, where work submitted straddles one or more subject areas, SOAS will ask for work to be ‘cross-referred’ to other panels.
SOAS internal panels for each of these submissions have already been formed and working for over a year. The recommendations of these panels will be relayed to the SOAS REF Panel for consideration and decision. For an explanation of their precise roles and membership, please refer to the Code of Practice. The day-to-day running of the process is managed by the Research Office, mainly Alexandra Leduc-Pagel in consultation with myself and Kathryn Oatey. A considerable amount of the data that will go into each submission derives from centrally held School information, and so we are working with Ali Hartrey in Planning and Pippa Smith in Registry for studentships and degrees awarded; Simon Gwynne in HR for information on submitted staff; Anne Perkins (Research Office) and Richard Lucus in Finance for all research income data; Deb Viney, our Diversity Advisor, for information on equality matters and assessments; Huei-Lan Liu in the Library; and our three Research Funding Officers, Anna Greedharee, Vivienne Connors and Rob Whiteing for information about research projects and impact. I am grateful to all of them for the work they are and will be putting in.
The Assessment
The REF has undergone a number of changes since the last exercise held in 2008. The most significant of these is the introduction of the impact measurement. Impact is broadly defined for the purpose of the REF as an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia. While it is not expected that all research produced at SOAS will have such an impact outside academia, a definite number of ‘impact case studies’ will be required per number of staff submitted in terms of FTE (full-time equivalent). The impact element of a submission will carry a weighting of 20%.
The publication section will constitute 65% of the overall profile, which is to say that the quality of our publications is the most important factor. The remaining 15% will be the assessment of the research environment in terms of vitality and sustainability. It includes the number of research doctoral degrees awarded, research income (please make sure that your research income is channelled through the Research Office!), and an environment template which will describe the research strategy of the department, its staffing and staff development strategy, infrastructure and facilities, collaborations, etc.
