Draft guidelines for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021: our response

The UK’s four higher education funding bodies published for consultation the draft guidance on making submissions to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 and the draft assessment criteria and working methods of the main and sub-panels.

In its response to the consultation the Chartered ABS expressed its general support for the proposals on the submission guidance as they are effective in clearly setting out what is required of submissions. However, some clarifications were requested on the number of outputs that can be submitted by, for example, 0.2 FTE Category A staff members and the eligibility requirements for former staff.

We also expressed agreement on the usefulness of the guidance on the assessment criteria and working methods but requested that the double-weighting of books is accepted more frequently.

You can read our full response here.