Real-time player

The pilot survey of attitudes to the Research Excellence Framework will inform future decision-making.

Evaluation is a crucial part of research assessment. At Research England and the other UK funding bodies, we discuss the post-exercise assessment of the Research Excellence Framework in terms of a ‘package’ of evaluation. This is to reflect the multitude of ways by which the impact or implementation of the exercise may be usefully understood.

The evaluation of REF 2014 took place in a number of ways, ranging from an evaluation of impact and environment to a quantitative review of interdisciplinary research and engagement with institutions and REF panel members. We have seen the findings of these evaluations feed into the approach for REF 2021 guidance on submissions and panel criteria and working methods.