1 Research Context and the RAE John Saunders Head of School, Aston Business School IDEAS Factory 23/24 October 2006

2 General principles  RAE: Research Assessment Exercise  Research quality over period 2001–07 to be assessed  Criteria and working methods finalised and published  Grouping of sub-panels into main panel areas  Affecting funding from

3 Some history  Previous proper RAEs in 1992, 1996, 2001 Applied a single rating to the whole of a submission  2001: each output rated as International, National or Sub-national quality 5* implies  >50% output of International standard  Very little output rated below National level Grade applies to all staff submitted, however:

4 Main differences from 2001  R monies 2001 Same amount for all staff in department Leads to cliff edge funding  R monies post-2008 No cliff edge Profile funding  Main panel I Accounting & finance Economics & econometrics Business & management Studies Library & information management  Staffing rules: no overlap period

5 RAE 2008 quality profile  Quality level: 4*, 3*, 2*, 1*, unclassified Unclassified = zero stars  Percentage of research activity in each category Based on FTE staff submitted No requirement to state % submitted  To apply to research output, the research environment indicators of esteem & impact

6 RAE 2008: calculation of R monies Quality level4*3*2*1*u/c % research activity e.g. Univ of North Midlands enters 50 FTE staff activity *The sub-panel will not know what the R values will be

7 RAE 2008 quality criteria for outputs Its originality, significance & rigour As a possible point of reference* in field or sub-field 4*World leadingPrimary 3*International standard of excellence Major 2*International qualityContributes 1*National qualityLimited contribution u/cBelow national * To knowledge, theory, policy or practice

8 When is RAE 2008?  st July: End of assessment period for research income & research student data 31 st October: Census date (staff included) 30 th November: Closing date for submissions 31 st December: End of publication period (cut off date for research output)  December 2008: results published  Academic year funding

9 Main panel I: Chair David Otley 34: Economics & econometrics (David Greenaway, Nottingham) 35: Accounting & finance (Andy Stark, MBS) 36: Business & management (Mike Pidd, Lancaster) 37: Library and information mgt (John Feather, Loughborough) Ray Paul Denise Osborne Jane Broadbent Structure of main panel I

10 Main panel I: FTE staff (%) submitted across the 4 areas (2001)

11 Elements of assessment Research environment (20%) Esteem & impact indicators (10%) Research outputs: 4 per person (70%) Quality profile Weighted and aggregated across each submission e.g. Research income PhD students Staff development

12 Research outputs  For established staff: 4 per person expected Unless work is exceptional Or time out from research (apply pro rata rule) Part-timers (apply pro rata rule) Multi-authored work: avoid joint submission from same department unless work is exceptional Different for early career researchers  Should flag up (possibly) Exceptional work (e.g. potential 4* but not in top-ranked outlet) Early career researchers People who’ve had time out or part-time (equal opps)

13 Early career researchers  Central RAE definition “Entered the academic profession on employment terms that qualified them for submission to RAE 2008 as Category A staff on or after 1 st August 2003.”  Submission requirements: Business & Mgt Appointed 1/8/03 to 31/7/05: normally 2 outputs Appointed 1/8/05 or later: normally 1 output Working papers may be submitted The denominator will be adjusted so there is no point submitting more than this

14 After RAE 2008: Dual funding system for research Research income HEFCE R monies Based on RAE Pays for research time & infrastructure Other research income, including research councils Pays for research projects & programmes

15 Future research funding  RAE 2008 and before Peer assessed  Research outputs (70%)  Research environment (20%)  Esteem & impact indicators (10%)  Beyond RAE 2008 Rationale: To use a less expensive method Motive: To concentrate research into a few “world leading” institutions Metrics. These could be:  Research Council income  Broader definition of research income  Citation indices All dangerous for Marketing!

16 Questions & discussion