The UK’s higher education funding bodies have made initial decisions on the high-level design of the next Research Excellence Framework (REF).
The next REF will conclude in 2028 and will assess research and impact between 2021 and 2027.
The exercise drives research excellence across the UK, provides accountability for public investment in research, and informs the allocation of around £2 billion of block-grant research funding each year.
The UK funding bodies are seeking to change the emphasis of national assessment from the performance of individuals to the contribution institutions and disciplines make to healthy, dynamic and inclusive research environments. They would also like the assessment to encompass broader contributions to research and the research process.
