The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is an assessment process for evaluating the standard of research in universities that receive funding from HEFCE. REF 2014 will be the seventh exercise of its kind since a national research assessment process was initiated in the mid-1980s. As a result of RAE 2008, the University receives over £6m of HEFCE QR (Quality Research) funding each year, which provides the research infrastructure from which we all benefit.

The Research Excellence Framework is a process of expert review, for assessment across all disciplines, governed by principles of equity, equality and transparency. We are obliged to demonstrate to our funders that our process of selecting of staff research for inclusion in the REF is fair and equitable, as it significantly impacts on the University and its research active staff.

Following guidance provided by HEFCE, the University has adopted a Code of Practice that will govern the processes and procedures followed in preparing our submission to REF 2014. All staff involved in the selection of research returned for the REF 2014 will adhere to these guidelines as the Code and its appendices indicate the University’s selection criteria, process and timetable for REF submission. The Code of Practice has been discussed in College Research Committees, was formally approved by the University’s Academic Board on the 26th April and has been submitted to HEFCE.

Strategic planning for the REF is led by the University’s Dean of Research, Professor Oriana Baddeley, with the support of the College Associate Deans of Research and the Director of Research Management & Administration. The central RMA REF team are co-ordinating the planning and preparation of the REF submission and the management of the REF data collection processes. Evaluation and selection of staff research is being led in the colleges by the Associate Deans of Research with the support of the staff experts on the college REF Working Groups.

The outcome of REF 2014 will influence prospects for research partnerships, income generation, student recruitment, curriculum development and knowledge exchange beyond the REF so careful account has to be taken of balancing the size of a submission (in terms of the number of staff selected) with the quality profile that we hope to achieve.

Taking into account the Government’s policy of both research selectivity and research concentration, it is inevitable that the 2014 REF will result in QR funding being skewed towards the higher levels of the quality profile. There will be limited advantage in including work at the lower levels for staff other than early career researchers because the Government has stated that it will not fund research that is below 3* quality. The nature of our submission must therefore reflect this assumption: to maximise the chances of a higher mean grade average, the threshold for entry will be raised by comparison with 2008. In broad terms, this means the University will exclude work likely to be considered ‘unclassified’ or 1* and to consider carefully the volume of work included that is likely to be considered 2*. While all staff will have the opportunity to put themselves forward for consideration and the process of selection will be closely informed by our REF Code of Practice, overall, this will mean less staff will be submitted than in 2008.

The University’s selective strategy for the REF should be understood as necessary for this exercise. However, it does not alter the value that we place on a wide range of research, advanced practice and knowledge exchange activity, all of which we recognise as crucial to the life of the University. This includes a commitment to the longer-term development of research capability by supporting new and emerging researchers in priority areas who will become vital to our research strategy beyond the REF exercise.

Each College will hold a REF Open Day this term as an opportunity to find out more about the University’s REF Code of Practice, as well as our strategy and preparation for submitting to REF 2014. Information on REF 2014, including the University’s REF Code of Practice, a HEFCE REF Guide and UAL Frequently Asked Questions on REF, are available at www.arts.ac.uk/research/ref/.

Please come and see the new UAL visual identity, and find out everything you need to know about how to use it. Hear from Pentagram partner and LCC alumnus Domenic Lippa (by video) about how the design solution was arrived at. Colleagues from the Communication and External Affairs department will provide the detail.

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We look forward to seeing you!

• Tuesday 15 May 10.30 Chelsea, lecture theatre
• Tuesday 15 May 14.30 High Holborn, main lecture theatre
• Wednesday 16 May 10.30 Wimbledon, lecture theatre
• Thursday 17 May 10.30 LCF, West Space John Prince’s Street
• Thursday 17 May 14.30 Chelsea, seminar room A208
• Tuesday 22 May 11.00 LCC, main lecture theatre
• Tuesday 22 May 14.30 Camberwell, main lecture theatre Wilson Road
• Wednesday 23 May 11.30 High Holborn, main lecture theatre
• Wednesday 23 May 14.30 Camberwell, ceramics lecture theatre Peckham Road
• Thursday 24 May 13.30 LCF, room LG B204 Lime Grove
• Tuesday 29 May 16.30 CSM, KX E002
• Wednesday 30 May 11.30 LCC, main lecture theatre
• Wednesday 30 May 2.30 CSM, KX E002