In REF 2029 a provider’s return will be based on an average number of staff with significant responsibility for research rather than a headcount of staff.
The current proposal is that institutions will be required to “submit 2.5 outputs per FTE of volume-contributing staff in each disciplinary area where they have activity.” In REF 2021 institutions had to submit 2.5 outputs per 1 full-time equivalent staff member. However, each individual had to submit at least one and no more than five outputs.
In contrast to REF 2021, the risk is that REF 2029 encourages institutions to return fewer staff with significant research responsibility who they believe will perform well rather than a broader number of staff with more representative research output. Although the funding councils say institutions will have to justify their sample, the mechanism, penalties and incentives around this, are not yet clear.
For example, if the total volume score based on FTE of staff with significant research responsibility was five a unit could, in theory, enter five outputs from one staff member.
