Research Excellence Framework (REF)
‘Push-back’ against proposal to use contractual status to identify research-active academics
Discussion of research excellence framework reform has overlooked the role of research itself, argues Kevin Hetherington
Economist says universities will simply ‘play different types of games’ after Stern review
Game-playing, ‘spurious precision’ of league tables and heavy workloads also highlighted by insiders from 2014 audit
Researchers on large-scale projects would receive less credit under proposed scheme
Stern Review steering group member says unclear whether assessment still drives up quality
Proportion of Royal Society scientists associated with Oxbridge is lower than expected, researcher says
Mathematical model works by trying to remove skewing of results in group funding decisions
Some universities in Germany are using extra cash to create elite flagship courses, says study
Sir Keith Burnett reflects on the future of academia and innovation in the UK and China
Biochemist named in analysis of US highly cited papers claims it is not his main contribution to science
Academics should be able to publish either a YouTube video or a paper, expert argues
Key recommendation of Stern review is adopted to help reduce workload for institutions
Landmark exhibition explained the significance of university research to the public
Phil Scraton on the role his work played in securing justice for the victims’ families and survivors of the 1989 disaster
Five top European academics offer advice on how to mentor, manage and expand a research team
Lengthy titles of journal papers are a turn-off for fellow academics and lead to fewer citations, claims new analysis
More researchers are inventing fake peer reviewers to get their work published, analysis suggests
Critics fear focus on research impact in next funding programme could lead to a REF-type exercise
The proposal to end the portability of research outputs could penalise ECRs, writes Nick Wright
Welfare state expert Peter Taylor-Gooby cheerfully admits his research has had no real-world influence – but hopes a book might
Jonathan Grant and Alexandra Pollitt look at how discrete choice modelling might be able to work out what type of impact is most valued
Some see changes as making it more attractive to hire younger researchers – but there could be new opportunities to game the system
Kirsty Rolfe says the portability proposal does nothing to ease the fears and worries of young researchers struggling to start careers
Study finds evidence supporting fears over a pre-REF ’transfer market’ for star academics
Concerns that Lord Stern’s proposals for REF 2020 will adversely affect ECRs are misplaced, argues Dame Athene Donald
Chair of independent review of research excellence framework also hopes to tackle 'game-playing'
Investing more in research ‘must be central to our nation’s strategy’, writes Lord Stern on the day his review of the REF is published
Lord Stern's review of the research excellence framework was published today. This is how UK higher education is responding...
Landmark review of the research excellence framework also recommends that university where research is done should be able to reap rewards
The grouping of subjects such as neuroscience and psychiatry with cheaper disciplines will lead to what critics say is a failure to fairly fund mental health research
Senior academic from the university embroiled in the ‘Climategate’ scandal warns how open data can be used irresponsibly to damage science
But research leaders in the UK say their European counterparts are already freezing them out when it comes to applying for EU money
We talk to the psychology professor about diversity in higher education, academics’ civic engagement, and mindfulness
Academy of Social Sciences joins former Royal Society president in raising questions about UK Research and Innovation
But rector of Denmark’s top university rejected the exercise owing to ‘workload and expense’
Instead, researchers should aim for methodological ‘soundness’ rather than ‘flashy claims of superiority’
James Andrew Smith looks at the likely administrative costs of the teaching excellence framework in the light of the costs of the REF
Academics and policy advisers have given their verdict in a study exploring how the REF affects the day-to-day lives of scholars
Lord Stern should devise a research excellence framework that looks beyond past performance, says Giosuè Baggio
In chasing REF points, academics may risk their public standing and undermine work with potentially profound effects, argues Mark Reed
Lobbying intensifies ahead of Lord Stern's review of crucial assessment into university research performance
Amid all the events to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, Peter J. Smith contemplates our appetite for everything – and anything – to do with the Bard
Many Italians have refused to take part in the country’s research assessment exercise. Alberto Baccini and Giuseppe De Nicolao consider the protest’s impact
Russell Group and University Alliance at loggerheads over whether next research excellence framework should assess more at university level
Debating the details of research assessment should not obscure wider debates around ethics and legitimacy, says Alis Oancea
In the first of a series of blogs based on the opening seminar of the Centre for Global Higher Education, Paul Ashwin takes a fresh look at a thorny concept
In giving short shrift to the production of modern interpretations, classicists consign their work to narrow academic circles, says Emma Gee
Scholars in the UK and Australia contemptuous of impact statements and often exaggerate them, study suggests
German academic looking at UK system raises concerns over incentives created by research excellence framework
Ministers must demonstrate that assessing ‘excellence’ does more good than harm, says Dorothy Bishop
Collaboration with Europe has grown dramatically since 2000, according to analysis
Future research excellence framework could incorporate information on the ‘future plans of institutions’
Despite claims that engagement with business is as important as research and teaching, academics find they have no time for work outside the academy
We must improve the system we already have, not make a switch to metrics, argues James Wilsdon
Phil Ashworth and John Lewin explain why the Environment Agency should be submitted to the REF
Another review of the exercise is a chance to revise details of the costs, says Jonathan Grant
Using the language of sport to sell metrics-based performance management ignores what sport can really teach academia, argues linguistics scholar Liz Morrish
Narrow science base could hurt ability to meet new challenges, report says
Institution’s US Centre seeks to promote multidisciplinary and international research on American policy
