REFlections: Evaluation of the REF 2014 and a Look to the Future

REFlections is an an event for leading thinkers and policy makers in the world of research policy. The event is run by HEFCE and is taking place at the Royal Society in London on 25th March 2015. The event will provide an opportunity for attendees to hear about a package of evidence on the Research Excellence Framework 2014 including:

• Outcomes of the evaluation of impact in the REF from the perspective of submitting institutions and assessment panels
• Feedback from members of the assessment panels
• Emerging outcomes from the review of the costs, benefits and burden for institutions of REF 2014
• A first chance to access and use the online database of REF impact case studies, which has been produced as part of project undertaken by Digital Science in conjunction with The Policy Institute at King’s College London and Nature Publishing Group (see below for more info)
• Initial analysis of the impact case studies and what they tell us about the state of UK research
• Reflections on wider analysis and future work, including initial recommendations from the independent review of the role of metrics in research assessment

As part of the REF exercise, universities submitted case studies showcasing the impact of their research beyond academia. These studies outline changes and benefits to the economy, society, culture, public policy and services, health, the environment and quality of life. The goals of the analysis project undertaken by Digital Science, The Policy Institute at King’s and Nature Publishing Group are to:

• Make these impact case studies freely available in a form and format that will enable any researcher to carry out analysis, using a range of techniques and methods including automated text-mining. This will be achieved through an online database of case studies.
• Carry out a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the impact case studies, to extract common themes and messages that will form evidence of the broad impact of higher education research on wider society.

To find our more about the project to analyse the REF impact case studies read our blog post here.

Attendance is currently by invitation only but subject to availability of places, registration to the conference will be opened to others.  To register your interest in attending email admin@ref.ac.uk