Revising the Research Excellence Framework: ensuring quality in REF2021, or new challenges ahead?

ABSTRACT

This paper considers the likely shape of the next UK Research Excellence Framework (REF). It explores some of the recommendations from the 2016 Stern Review (those concerned with ‘outputs’) and their envisaged impact on the exercise. Drawing on lessons learnt from the previous round of the REF, and some wider commentary, the paper considers some of the problems emergent from REF2014, whether they can be mitigated, and whether new problems might emerge in REF2021. Prominently, the issues of ‘burden’ and ‘gaming’ are explored. Although there are some grounds for optimism, much more detail will be needed before we can be reasonably confident about achieving a less burdensome and a more accurate evaluation of research quality within universities across the UK.

KEYWORDS:

• Gaming
• impact
• metrics
• research assessment
• Research Excellence Framework
• Stern review
• Teaching Excellence Framework

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

 Tony Murphy is based within the Department of Law and Criminology at Sheffield Hallam University. He also works for the Open University. He previously held posts at the University of Westminster, the LSE, and Manchester Metropolitan University. Tony has studied at the LSE, the Open University, and the University of Oxford. His research interests relate to social justice, crime and justice issues, and education policies.