REF2021

The University of Northampton (UON) continues to develop a more supportive, inclusive, and collaborative research culture to enable our researchers to flourish in their chosen area of expertise.

For REF 2021, ‘environment’ was assessed as the environment for supporting research and enabling impact within each submitting unit. Environment accounted for 15% of the overall outcome awarded to each submission and was assessed against two criteria: vitality and sustainability.

Each University submitted an environment statement for all units of assessment submitted, alongside an institutional level environment statement (not graded).

As a signatory of the Universities UK Concordat to Support Research Integrity UON is committed to maintaining the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research.

The University has a Research Integrity Policy and Action Plan that outlines our wider commitments to reviewing and developing our culture of integrity and developing our researchers to ensure best practice and fulfilling the requirements of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity.

Unit 32:  Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory was assessed as having 77.5% of its environment as being internationally excellent.

In all the Units of Assessment that were submitted we were recognised as having elements of an environment that was of an international standard.

For REF 2021, impact was defined as the effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment, or quality of life, beyond academia.

HEIs were required to submit impact case studies that demonstrate the impacts their research has had beyond academia.

Impact accounted for 25% of the overall outcome awarded to each submission. Impact case studies were assessed against two criteria: reach and significance.

In UOA 23: Education 100% of our impact was assessed as being world leading/internationally excellent.

• Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools): transforming special education provision in Ireland
• Revolutionising parents’ and professionals’ understanding and skills regarding autism in south east Europe

In UOA 17: Business and Management Studies 83.3% of our impact case studies was assessed as being internationally excellent.

• Driving evidence-based change in ‘Citizens in Policing’ strategy, leadership and innovation
• Driving Policy Innovation for the UK Government in the development of an outcomes focused public service innovation market
• Enhancing UK small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and local authorities’ collaboration with China

In UOA 27: English Language and Literature 75% of our impact case studies was assessed as being internationally excellent.

• Increasing the Public Heritage of Katherine Mansfield in France and New Zealand
• Making a Difference: Poet/Composer collaboration to enhance Cultural and Education Capacity in young people through song

In UOA 28: History 75% of our impact case studies was assessed as being internationally excellent.

• Highlighting British military intelligence within the First World War centenaries
• The Searchlight Archive and British Extreme Right Culture

All our impact case studies can be downloaded from the REF201 Impact Database.

In UOA 27 English Language and Literature – 86% of our research outputs were assessed as being world leading/internationally excellent.

Education’s growing research capacity and expanding portfolio of networks, collaborations and partnerships have contributed to an increase in their external engagement and wider contributions.

Some of our highlighted research outputs from Education include:

• Children Living in Sustainable Built Environments: New Urbanisms, New Citizens
• Multi-sensory storytelling: a tool for teaching or an intervention technique

In UOA 28 History – 80% of our research outputs were assessed as being world leading/internationally excellent.

The university hosts two important archives. The Fowler Collection comprises around 3,000 items, including rare books dating from the seventeenth century, and record society volumes covering regional and national history from the medieval period to the twentieth century.

The Searchlight Archive is an internationally significant collection of Fascist and Antifascist materials, including the records of the magazine Searchlight and its related organisations. This material is housed in a dedicated archive, for which History provides the academic lead and a dedicated archivist which is accessed by scholars from across the globe.

Some of our highlighted research outputs from History include:

• Colin Jordan and Britain’s Neo-Nazi Movement: Hitler’s Echo
• Consumption and the Country House

In UOA 32 Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory over 50% of our research outputs were assessed as being world leading/internationally excellent.

Our Art and design practice-based researchers have worked closely with Arts Council Funded galleries, arts organisations, museums and theatres in the UK and internationally.

Some of our highlighted research outputs from Art & Design include:

• Monochrome: Darkness and Light in Contemporary Art
• Partisan social club:  ART-STUDY-ACTION