Research Assessment Exercise
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The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) is an exercise undertaken approximately every 5 years on behalf of the four UK higher education funding councils (HEFCE, SHEFC, HEFCW, DELNI) to evaluate the quality of research undertaken by British higher education institutions. RAE submissions from each subject area, (or unit of assessment) are given a rank by a subject specialist peer review panel. The rankings are used to inform the allocation of quality weighted research funding (QR) each higher education institution receives from their national funding council.
Previous RAEs took place in 1986, 1989, 1992, 1996 and 2001. The next is scheduled in 2008.
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[edit] Scale
In 2001 and 1996 the following descriptions were used for each of the ratings. The scale used in 1992 is given in brackets.
- 5* (5*) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of international excellence in more than half of the research activity submitted and attainable levels of national excellence in the remainders.
- 5 (5) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of international excellence in up to half of the research activity submitted and to attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all of the remainder. (Same definition)
- 4 (4) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all of the research activity submitted, showing some evidence of international excellence. (Same definition)
- 3a (3) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in over two-thirds of the research activity submitted, possibly showing evidence of international excellence. (Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in a majority of the sub-areas of activity, or to international level in some)
- 3b (3) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in more than half of the research activity submitted. (Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in a majority of the sub-areas of activity, or to international level in some)
- 2 (2) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in up to half of the research activity submitted. (Same definition)
- 1 (1) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in none, or virtually none, of the research activity submitted. (Same definition)
These ratings have been applied to "units of assessment", such as French or Chemistry, which broadly equate to university departments. Various unofficial league tables have been created of university research capability by aggregating the results from units of assessment.
The 2008 RAE will use instead a four point scale. And in addition, the rating will not be applied to an entire unit of assessment. Rather, each unit will be given a quality "profile" - a four-column bar chart - indicating what proportion of its work is considered to fall into each of the four quality bands. As a result, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to rank departments according to their RAE rating. Compiling league tables of universities based on the RAE will also become problematic.
[edit] Assessment process
The assessment process for the RAE focuses on research grants obtained and quality of research outputs (which usually means papers published in academic journals). Each subject panel determines precise rules within general guidance. For the 2008 RAE, participants are to submit their best four research outputs from between January 2001 and October 2007.
In response to prior criticism and developments in employment law, the 2008 RAE does more to take into account part-time workers or those new to a sufficient level of seniority to be included in the process.
[edit] Criticism
The RAE has not been without its critics, since 1996 the AUT has repeatedly reiterated its policy of opposition to the Research Assessment Exercise [1]. NATFHE has also voiced opposition [2]. According to the AUT:
- The RAE has had a disastrous impact on the UK higher education system, leading to the closure of departments with strong research profiles and healthy student recruitment. It has been responsible for job losses, discriminatory practices, widespread demoralisation of staff, the narrowing of research opportunities through the over-concentration of funding and the undermining of the relationship between teaching and research.
[edit] Planned changes to RAE system
It was announced in the 2006 Budget that after the 2008 exercise a system of metrics would be developed in order to inform future allocations of QR funding. Following initial consultation with the higher education sector, it is thought that the Higher Education Funding Councils will introduce a metrics based system of assessment for Science, Technology Engineering and Medicine subjects (known as STEM). A process of peer review is likely to remain for mathematics, statistics, arts, humanities and social studies subjects.
