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REF2029

REF2029
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  4. REF2029

The purpose of REF2029 is to:

  • To provide accountability for public investment in research and produce evidence of the benefits of this investment.
  • To provide benchmarking information and establish reputational yardsticks, for use within the Higher Education sector and for public information.
  • To inform the selective allocation of funding for research.

“The REF outcomes are used to inform the allocation of around £2 billion per year of public funding for universities’ research.”

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The REF outcomes are used to inform the allocation of around £2 billion per year of public funding for universities’ research. The REF is a process of expert review, carried out by sub-panels focused on subject-based units of assessment (UOAs), under the guidance of overarching main panels and advisory panels. Panels are made up of senior academics, international members, and research users.

People, Culture & Environment

REF2029

Contribution to Knowledge and Understanding

REF2029

Impact & Engagement

REF2029

Additional REF info

  • The three elements familiar from REF 2014 and REF 2021 have been renamed, their content adjusted, and their weightings rebalanced to reflect this:

    • People, culture and environment (25% weighting) replaces the environment element and will be expanded to include research culture.
    • Contribution to knowledge and understanding (50% weighting) replaces the outputs element. It will largely be based on assessment of research outputs but will also include evidence of broader contributions to the advancement of the discipline.
    • Engagement and impact (25% weighting) replaces the impact element. It is similar to the impact element of REF 2014 and will consist of impact case studies and an accompanying statement.
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