1. Research Update
GERI May 2010

2. Funding climate
Research Excellence Framework
Symplectic demo

3. Funding
Severe constraints on external and internal funding for research
All-time low success rates for grants (10-15%)
No further rounds of research capital (RCIF)?
STEM subjects slightly better protected via Science budget
EPSRC adopts “3 strikes and you are out” policy for investigators
National review of PhD provision

4. Research Excellence Framework
RAE2008 viewed as a successful process
Increased emphasis on STEM
Need to demonstrate that publicly-funded research benefits UK PLC

5. What will be assessed? Outputs (60%) Environment (15%) Impact (25%)
Esteem is no longer a stand-alone measure
Common weightings across all UoAs
Greater consistency for assessment process across panels

6. Quality profile 4* exceptional (world-leading) 3* excellent
2* very good
1* good
Unclassified
Likely that only 3* and 4* research will be funded

7. Panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels…
30-40 UoAs (67 in RAE2008)
Current proposal to merge all Engineering UoAs (24-29) into a single uber-UoA
Specialist sub-panels

8. Outputs 4 best outputs from your portfolio of work
Originality, significance & rigour
Early Career Researchers may submit fewer
Peer-reviewed assessment with sampling of outputs (implications for journal choice?)
Citations data (WoS and Scopus) will be provided to panels
Single biggest driver to quality assessment (60% weighting)
Clear message –> focus on quality outputs

9. Environment Less reliant on ‘creative writing’
Demonstrate intellectual and physical infrastructure to support research
Uses a common template to evidence:
Resourcing (staff, income, infrastructure)
Management (strategy, staff development & PGR training)
Engagement (KE with people & organisations)
Largely qualitative supported by key metrics (income, PGRs)

10. Impact Impact with users of research (i.e., beyond academic peers)
Impact is broadly defined
Assesses impact of the ‘department’ – not individuals
Not all people, projects or outputs need to demonstrate impact
Impact should be evident within REF window ( )
Based on excellent research performed by the submitting dept. in past years

11. Public policy & services
Economic
Quality of life
Social
Types of impact
Cultural
Public policy & services
Environmental
Health

12. Impact criteria Assessment against Impact pilot exercise
Reach (how widely the impacts have been felt)
Significance (how transformative the impacts have been)
Impact pilot exercise
Physics & English

13. Impact – what we submit Impact statement Case studies
Our approach / strategy
Range and breadth of interactions with research users
Case studies
1 case study per 5-10 staff (min 2?)
Both supported by appropriate metrics

14. Timetable (subject to change!!!)
2010
Impact pilot submission & results
Expert panels established
Guidance to HEIs
2012
Submissions (November?)
2013
Outcomes published (December?)