Recording of eligibility for selection for the RAE in HESA staff returns

To:

Heads of HEFCE-funded higher education institutions, Heads of universities in Northern Ireland
Heads of SFC-funded higher education institutions, Welsh institutions will be notified by HEFCW

Dear Vice-Chancellor or Principal

1.   This letter clarifies the definition of Category A staff in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE2008). No response is required.

2.   The 2007-08 Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) staff record collects details of staff eligibility for inclusion in RAE2008. These data, though not required for the assessment of the quality of research, are required by us, and the other UK higher education (HE) funding bodies, in order to assess the operation of the RAE. In particular we have a duty to assess all our policies in relation to their impact on promoting equality of opportunity. Details of these requirements are given in paragraphs 23 and 35 to 38 of the RAE guidance on submissions (RAE 03/2005). The outcomes of our analysis of submission patterns to the 2001 RAE can be found in 'Selection of staff for inclusion in RAE2001', HEFCE 2006/32.

3.   HESA has received a number of queries regarding interpretation of the RAE2008 guidance on Category A staff. However, the definition of Category A staff is owned by the HE funding bodies as sponsors of the RAE rather than HESA. The definitive specification of Category A staff is clearly contained under the title of 'Staff summary data definitions and notes' in paragraph 68 and again in paragraph 76 of the RAE guidance on submissions, and is reproduced at Annex A below. This guidance has not been revised since publication in June 2005.

4.   It is clear from paragraph 76 that the definition of Category A staff eligible for submission includes all academic staff on the payroll with research and/or teaching as their primary function. Paragraph 77 then indicates some further categories of staff who are eligible for inclusion in Category A.

5.   Accordingly, we would expect nearly all academic staff within an institution to meet the definition of Category A and this includes staff who may not have undertaken any significant research during the assessment period; such staff should be coded 2 in the RESACT field on the 2007-08 HESA return, and subsequent HESA returns.

6.   We have asked HESA to question any 2007-08 return that includes a significant number of academic staff reported as ineligible for inclusion as Category A. Should HESA refer any returns to us due to concerns about non-compliance we would undertake checking, based on paragraphs 76 to 90 of the RAE guidance on submission, to ensure that these data are returned consistently by all institutions in order to support the equal opportunities monitoring we plan to conduct. It would not be in the best interests of either individual HE institutions, or the sector as a whole, if this monitoring could not be undertaken effectively.

Yours sincerely

David Sweeney
Director (Research, Innovation and Skills), HEFCE 
on behalf of HEFCE, SFC, HEFCW and DEL

Share this:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

---