1

Research Context and the RAEJohn SaundersHead of School, Aston Business SchoolIDEAS Factory23/24 October 2006

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General principles RAE: Research Assessment Exercise

Research quality over period 2001–07 to be assessed

Criteria and working methods finalised and published

Grouping of sub-panels into main panel areas

Affecting funding from 2009-10

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Some history Previous proper RAEs in 1992, 1996, 2001

Applied a single rating to the whole of a submission

2001: each output rated as International, National or Sub-national quality 5* implies

>50% output of International standard Very little output rated below National level

Grade applies to all staff submitted, however:

4

Main differences from 2001

£0.00

£5.00

£10.00

£15.00

£20.00

£25.00

£30.00

5* 5 4 3 2 1

2001 RAE rating

£000s/head

R monies 2001 Same amount for all staff in

department Leads to cliff edge funding

R monies post-2008 No cliff edge Profile funding

Main panel I Accounting & finance Economics & econometrics Business & management Studies Library & information

management

Staffing rules: no overlap period

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RAE 2008 quality profile Quality level: 4*, 3*, 2*, 1*, unclassified

Unclassified = zero stars

Percentage of research activity in each category Based on FTE staff submitted No requirement to state % submitted

To apply to research output, the research environment indicators of esteem & impact

6RAE 2008: calculation of R monies

Quality level 4* 3* 2* 1* u/c

% research activity

20 25 30 15 10

e.g. Univ of North Midlands enters 50 FTE staff activity

stars for income/FTE :Where

.15.30.25.20 1234

iR

RRRRIncome

i

*The sub-panel will not know what the R values will be

7RAE 2008 quality criteria for outputs

Its originality, significance & rigour

As a possible point of reference* in field or sub-field

4* World leading Primary

3* International standard of excellence

Major

2* International quality Contributes

1* National quality Limited contribution

u/c Below national

* To knowledge, theory, policy or practice

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When is RAE 2008? 2007

31st July: End of assessment period for research income &

research student data

31st October: Census date (staff included) 30th November: Closing date for submissions 31st December: End of publication period (cut

off date for research output)

December 2008: results published Academic year 2008-9 funding

9

Main

pan

el I: C

hair

David

Otl

ey

34: Economics & econometrics (David Greenaway, Nottingham)

35: Accounting & finance (Andy Stark, MBS)

36: Business & management (Mike Pidd, Lancaster)

37: Library and information mgt(John Feather, Loughborough)

Ray Paul

Denise OsborneJane

Broadbent

Structure of main panel I

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Main panel I: FTE staff (%) submitted across the 4 areas (2001)

AcFin7%

B&MS64%

Econ21%

LIM8%

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Elements of assessment

Researchenvironment

(20%)

Esteem & impact

indicators (10%)

Research outputs: 4 per person (70%)

Quality profile

Weighted and aggregated across each submission

e.g.Research incomePhD studentsStaff development

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Research outputs For established staff: 4 per person expected

Unless work is exceptional Or time out from research (apply pro rata rule) Part-timers (apply pro rata rule) Multi-authored work: avoid joint submission from same

department unless work is exceptional Different for early career researchers

Should flag up (possibly) Exceptional work (e.g. potential 4* but not in top-ranked

outlet) Early career researchers People who’ve had time out or part-time (equal opps)

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Early career researchers Central RAE definition

“Entered the academic profession on employment terms that qualified them for submission to RAE 2008 as Category A staff on or after 1st August 2003.”

Submission requirements: Business & Mgt Appointed 1/8/03 to 31/7/05: normally 2 outputs Appointed 1/8/05 or later: normally 1 output Working papers may be submitted The denominator will be adjusted so there is no point

submitting more than this

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After RAE 2008: Dual funding system for research

Research income

HEFCE R moniesBased on RAE

Pays for research time &

infrastructure

Other research income, including research councilsPays for research

projects & programmes

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Future research funding RAE 2008 and before

Peer assessed Research outputs (70%) Research environment (20%) Esteem & impact indicators (10%)

Beyond RAE 2008 Rationale: To use a less expensive method Motive: To concentrate research into a few “world

leading” institutions Metrics. These could be:

Research Council income Broader definition of research income Citation indices

All dangerous for Marketing!

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Questions & discussion