1. Consultation on panel criteria and working methods

2. Consultation process The REF panels and REF team are consulting on the criteria and working methods that panels will employ when assessing submissions: Part 1: A generic statement of criteria that will be applied by all panels Part 2: A statement of the criteria and working methods developed by each of the four Main Panels Responses must be made online at www.ref.ac.ukwww.ref.ac.uk Consultation closes on 5 Oct 2011 Final criteria and working methods to be published in Jan 2012

3. Generic statement of criteria Part 1 sets out: How all panels will operate within the common framework and generic criteria for assessment General procedures to be followed by all panels (for example, regarding collective decision making, confidentiality and managing conflicts of interest) Proposed generic ‘tariffs’ to determine the number of outputs that may be reduced for staff with clearly defined circumstances; and options for taking account of maternity leave

4. Main panel statements of criteria Part 2 sets out: The criteria and guidance of each main panel and its sub-panels, relating to: Submissions and UOAs Outputs Impact Environment The working methods of each main panel and its sub- panels

5. Consultation questions: generic Consistency between the four main panels Individual staff circumstances (to be discussed in the Equality and Diversity session)

6. Consultation questions: main panel Consistency between the group of sub-panels UOA descriptors Expectations about multiple submissions

7. Consultation questions: main panel The clarity and appropriateness of criteria relating to outputs, including: - Criteria and level definitions - Output types - Co-authorship - Double-weighted outputs - Additional information - Use of citation data

8. Consultation questions: main panel The appropriateness and helpfulness of the criteria and guidance relating to impact including: - The range of impacts - Evidence of impacts - Assuring the quality threshold for underpinning research - The impact template - The criteria of ‘reach and significance’

9. Consultation questions: main panel The clarity and appropriateness of criteria relating to Environment including: - Information requested in the environment template - Use of data - The criteria of ‘vitality and sustainability’ The clarity and appropriateness of the working methods

10. Consultation responses Responses will help us refine the criteria and working methods A separate response should be made for each main panel criteria statement Must be made online www.ref.ac.uk by midday, 5 October 2011www.ref.ac.uk Enquiries: admin@ref.ac.ukadmin@ref.ac.uk