The UK's higher education funding bodies spend around £1.6 billion each year on the research capacity of UK universities. They use a research assessment exercise to benchmark research quality and inform the allocation of this funding.
The new Research Excellence Framework (REF) sets out the criteria and procedures for the next assessment in 2012, informing funding from 2014.
The overall objective of the REF is to maintain the capacity of higher education to undertake world-leading research while promoting economic growth and national well-being and the expansion and dissemination of knowledge.
Key features are
- a continuing focus on research excellence, benchmarked against international standards, assessed through peer review
- recognition for building on excellent research to deliver beneficial economic and social impacts
- a vibrant research environment, supporting the continued flow of excellent research and its effective dissemination
Find out more about the RTPI's involvement with the Research Excellence Framework
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