HEFCE launches consultation on Research Excellence Framework

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has launched its second consultation on the assessment and funding of research.

The new arrangement—known as the Research Excellence Framework (REF)—will see a single unified framework for the funding and assessment of research across all subjects by 2014. It will replace the existing Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

Responses to the new REF proposals are invited from Higher Education Institutions and other groups and organisations with an interest in the conduct, quality, funding or use of research. This includes businesses, industry representatives, government and public sector bodies, charities and other third sector, social and cultural organisations.

These latest proposals incorporate recommendations made by UKCDS and other stakeholders to the initial consultation in 2007. UKCDS argued against having separate assessment methods for 'science-based' and 'non-science based' subjects on the grounds that it might discourage the multi- and inter-disciplinary research of development sciences. HEFCE has now introduced a unified approach for all subjects.   

The consultation closes 16th December 2009.

Visit HEFCE to read the consultation.