Number of researchers submitted to REF up 46 per cent on 2014

More than 20,000 additional full-time equivalent UK academics have been entered into the research excellence framework, according to final data released after the closing of the submission window.

Under new rules for the 2021 assessment, all staff with “significant responsibility for research” are required to submit at least one output for evaluation. Research funders said that this had resulted in a 46 per cent increase in the number of full-time equivalent academics participating, with the total now in excess of 76,000. In 2014 it stood at 52,077.

However, this is estimated to represent only three-quarters of the total eligible population, based on Higher Education Statistics Agency data for the number of staff on “research only” or “teaching and research” contracts.

The “significant responsibility for research” rule was introduced after an independent review of the REF led by Lord Stern, former president of the British Academy, which was published in 2016 and criticised the “game-playing” of institutions that sought to improve their REF standing by excluding certain researchers.

However, this triggered concerns that universities would look to change the contractual status of staff whose research performance did not meet expectations.

The REF rules do permit a number of reasons for staff not to be submitted. Small research units with fewer than five full-time equivalent researchers can request an exemption, while issues such as family leave, secondments and sickness can lead to individual researchers being excluded. Additional exemptions cover academics whose work was severely disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Times Higher Education understands that funders regard the shortfall in submission numbers as being mainly the result of some academics recorded by Hesa as being on teaching and research contracts not actually having “significant responsibility” for research, and hence being ineligible for submission.

But the list of submitted researchers also includes some staff who have been made redundant since the census date of 31 July last year. While their inclusion was required under the rules, it has been criticised by academics.

The funders said that 157 universities were participating in this year’s REF, and had submitted more than 185,000 research outputs for assessment by expert panels. A further 6,700 case studies, outlining the impact of that research, will also be reviewed.

The 31 March deadline was pushed back from November 2020, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The funders said that some universities had taken advantage of the option to request further extensions to finalise narrative elements of submissions, covering about 3 per cent of impact case studies and 5 per cent of environment statements, which are now due to be submitted in the next six weeks.

Kim Hackett, the REF director, said: “The past year has presented many challenges for universities and their staff. We offer our thanks to them for working with the REF team and funding bodies in such uncertain times to ensure we can deliver a robust and timely assessment.

“I am delighted to have reached this milestone and look forward to working closely with the panels on the assessment during the next year.”

The results of the assessment are due to be announced in April 2022.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com