Two stand down from RAE panel discussions

Two surveying experts are to stand down from research assessment exercise panel discussions in the wake of a row over potential prejudice.

Fifteen universities are losing accreditation by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors following new RICS criteria, which include RAE ratings, and there have been fears of bias from panel members involved in the RICS decisions. The Higher Education Funding Council for England said that two panel members had taken part in the RICS accreditation process. Hefce refused to name the pair.