Teaching Learning & Research
HEFCE's Consultation of Proposed Operation of the Research Excellence Framework
HEFCE and its equivalent UK funding bodies today announced the outcome of their consultation on the REF conducted last autumn, to which the Association of Art Historians submitted a formal response
(see http://www.aah.org.uk/teaching-learning-and-research). HEFCE provide a summary of the 534 responses that they received: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/consult/outcomes/ref2.asp.
The HEFCE comment on the outcomes of the consultation is available at:
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/HEFCE/2010/ref.htm
Today's document is very limited and does not answer any of the most important questions about the ultimate form of REF. This document correctly notes the overwhelming support for assessment by expert review and for an emphasis on research outputs. It is also correct in observing that there was widespread support in principle for the assessment of the 'social and economic' impact of research, though this is coloured by the fact that the measurement of Impact within REF was not open for negotiation. HEFCE acknowledges the demand for a robust methodology for measuring Impact, and the general concern about their proposal that it should constitute 25% of the assessment.
The outcome of the consultation is that the funding bodies will make 'some refinements' to their proposals. We can expect, therefore, that the consultation document of autumn 2009 will stand as a more or less accurate explanation of how REF will operate. We should still anticipate that the submission deadline for REF will be the end of 2012, though it is important to note (a) that the funding bodies are 'considering the overall timetable for completion of the first REF exercise in the light of feedback from the consultation and the refinements we are making', and (b), independently the Conservative Party have indicated that they would Postpone REF for up to two years if they form the new government in May (THES 14 Jan. 2010), on account of doubts about the existence of a robust and acceptable methodology for measuring Impact. For its part, HEFCE still expect to announce such a methodology as a result of its pilot exercise in autumn 2010. There is presumably a possibility that a Conservative government would ultimately declare confidence in the results of HEFCE's pilot exercise).
Surprisingly, no decision has been taken on the final panel structure. The funding bodies will make a decision on this 'later in the year'. In the meantime HEFCE are recruiting chairs designate of the 'Main Panels' i.e. in our case Panel D (Arts and Humanities). The Person Specification is here:
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/research/ref/chairs_designate.pdf
There is no indication of the extent to which the sub-panels in the original proposal will be reorganized, though they are expected to be decided upon and appointed by the end of 2010. It remains likely that History of Art, Architecture and Design will still be embedded within 'Art and Design'.
The weighting for Impact, research environment and outputs will be announced after the Impact pilot exercise has been completed. It is widely believed that the proposed proportion of 25% for Impact was an initial negotiating position, and it is likely that the final percentage will be somewhat lower.
Peter Stewart
Chair, Teaching, Learning, and Research, AAH 30/3/10