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Research assessment and You and UCU

Research assessment and You and UCU . Overview. UCU Policy REF detail Selection and Submission criteria Research environment Impact Research funding Scottish perspective. UCU Policy – Twin track. UCU opposes research assessment. Challenge detail of REF Impact criteria

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Research assessment and You and UCU

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  1. Research assessment and You and UCU

  2. Overview • UCU Policy • REF detail • Selection and Submission criteria • Research environment • Impact • Research funding • Scottish perspective

  3. UCU Policy – Twin track • UCU opposes research assessment. • Challenge detail of REF • Impact criteria • Detrimental impact on female staff • Selection criteria • Advice on local implementation • Help for members

  4. Opposition “The RAE has had a disastrous impact on the UK higher education system, leading to the closure of departments with strong research profiles and healthy student recruitment. It has been responsible for job losses, discriminatory practices, widespread demoralisation of staff, the narrowing of research opportunities through the over-concentration of funding and the undermining of the relationship between teaching and research.”

  5. UCU on 2014 REF consultation • Opposed Impact in REF • 17,500 signatures for ‘Stand Up for Research’ • weighting for impact was lowered • ‘case study’ rather than comprehensive approach to assessing impact • Panel selection criteria • better reflection of the effect of paternity and adoption leave on research outputs

  6. REF 2014 • Still process of expert review not metrics • Submission by 29 November 2013 • Census date 31 October 2013 • Four assessable research outputs • 36 units of assessment (4 main panels) • Profile • Equality impact

  7. Selection of staff • Final criteria published in January • Category A staff • Research-only staff excluded • HEIs - fair and transparent selection of staff for their REF submissions • Institutional codes of practice submitted to REF by 31 July 2012

  8. Codes of practice • Submitted and under review • Disclosure of staff circumstances • Maternity leave or health issues • Selection Committees • Feedback and appeals • Protection of excluded staff • Good governance of procedure

  9. Generic assessment criteria • Outputs 65% • Quality of submitted research • Impact 20% • ‘reach and significance’ of impacts on the economy, society and/or culture • Environment 15% • ‘vitality and sustainability’

  10. Scottish Research funding • Research Councils UK wide (Reserved) • REF led by HEFCE • Research Funding decided by SFC • Third of SFC funding • Scotland specific research grants • Knowledge exchange separate stream

  11. Research Funding presently • Based each submission not whole unit • Only 3* and 4* funded from 2012 • Ratio increased to 3:1 • Concentration now identical to England • Stirling suffered cuts after 2008 • Gain of 3% in 2012 to £6.3M

  12. UCU Scotland Policy • Opposes further concentration • Only benefits research intensive • Reduces breadth in Scotland • Teaching link • Seed corn funding • 2* funding • Scottish specific research

  13. Conclusion • REF 2014 in full flow • http://www.hefce.ac.uk/research/ref/pubs/2012/01_12/ • Expert review • Funding concentration • UCU will work to help members

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