Research Excellence Framework (REF)
The Government has asked HEFCE to develop a new framework for research assessment and funding that makes greater use of quantitative information – metrics- than the Research Assessment Exercise 2008. This will be introduced gradually between 2010 and 2014.
For the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, disciplines represented at SOAS, HEFCE proposes a new "light-touch peer review" process informed by metrics, which take place in 2013, to drive funding from 2014. From late 2009, HEFCE will already consult on the so-called light touch peer review. HEFCE has also determined that the new framework will operate with fewer and broader discipline groupings than the RAE.
This new metrics-informed process, when fully implemented, is meant to reduce the burden of making submissions. For this to happen, the SOAS research online has been implemented and it is therefore crucial that every member of staff systematically input in this new database their publications as soon as they are published.
For more information, please consult: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/research/ref/, or contact Alexandra Leduc-Pagel (al25), Research Office
Professor Graham Furniss, Pro-Director
