22 November 2007
HEFCE consults on new way to assess and fund research
HEFCE has launched a consultation on proposals for overhauling the way it will in future assess and fund research. When the new assessment framework is fully implemented it will be a key element in HEFCE's funding for research allocated as block grant to universities and colleges in England. The Government supports the consultation and welcomes the progress that has been made (see note 2).
The proposed Research Excellence Framework will make more extensive use of quantitative indicators - particularly in the science-based disciplines - in comparison to the current system (the Research Assessment Exercise or RAE). It will ensure that future research funding allocations are based on rigorous assessment of quality, while offering reductions in cost and burden.
Within an overarching framework for the funding and assessment of research, HEFCE has set out proposals that will take account of key differences between the different disciplines:
- For the science-based disciplines, a new bibliometric indicator of research quality is proposed, based on the extent to which research papers are cited by other publications. This new indicator will be combined with research income and research student data, to drive the allocation of HEFCE research funding in these disciplines
- For the arts, humanities and social sciences (where quantitative approaches are less developed) we will develop a light touch form of peer review, though we are not consulting on this aspect at this stage.
Professor David Eastwood, Chief Executive of HEFCE, said:
'The RAE has been hugely effective in enhancing and assessing the quality of research, and has been the bedrock of a quality-driven funding system. It has also played a significant role in driving up the quality of research across the UK higher education sector. The 2008 RAE will be crucial in substantially informing funding for a number of years and in providing a benchmark for the future.
'As we look beyond 2008, there is a broad consensus that the time is now right to develop a more streamlined approach for the future.
'I am confident that the proposals we set out today will deliver robust and meaningful indicators of research quality for science-based disciplines, with rigorous international benchmarking of quality. The data will be used to inform funding, but will also be useful to institutions in managing research and other stakeholders and research users.
'We look forward to continuing to working with the sector on developing our proposals to deliver a system that is workable and commands confidence.'
The new framework will be phased in gradually, and will start to inform research funding from 2010-11 in the science-based disciplines, and fully driving all research funding from 2014.
The consultation highlights issues around the use of the bibliometric indicator of research quality for the science-based disciplines, as the area requiring most new work. It also seeks preliminary views on other aspects of the framework. The consultation will be followed by a pilot exercise during 2008, and further consultations to develop in detail all aspects of the future arrangements.
Notes
1. The consultation document: 'Research Excellence Framework: Consultation on the assessment and funding of higher education research post-2008', was published by HEFCE today. Responses are due by 14 February 2008.
2. John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, wrote to HEFCE Chairman David Young on 21 November supporting the consultation. [Letter as PDF 88K]
3. This consultation follows the Government's announcement in the 2006 Pre-Budget Report that a new 'metrics' based approach to research assessment and funding will replace the RAE after the 2008 exercise. The Government asked HEFCE to develop this new framework, in consultation with the higher education sector.
4. HEFCE is working with the other UK higher education funding bodies to develop a UK-wide quality assessment process. Each funding body will develop its own approach to funding. The Scottish Funding Council and Higher Education Funding Council for Wales are issuing parallel consultations on this basis.
5. The proposals on the use of bibliometrics are informed by a thorough scoping study by leading experts in the field.
6. In 2007-08 HEFCE is allocating £1,415 million in research funding.