Research Assessment Exercise
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The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) is an exercise undertaken every 5 years on behalf of the four UK higher education funding councils (HEFCE, SHEFC, HEFCW, DELNI) to evaluate the quality of research undertaken by British higher education institutions. RAE submissions from each subject area, (or unit of assessment) are given a rank by a subject specialist peer review panel. The rankings are used to inform the allocation of quality weighted research funding (QR) each higher education institution receives from their national funding council.
Previous RAEs took place in 1986, 1989, 1992, 1996 and 2001. The next is scheduled in 2008.
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[edit] Scale
In 2001 and 1996 the following descriptions were used for each of the ratings. The scale used in 1992 is given in brackets.
- 5* (5*) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of international excellence in more than half of the research activity submitted and attainable levels of national excellence in the remainder.
- 5 (5) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of international excellence in up to half of the research activity submitted and to attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all of the remainder. (Same definition)
- 4 (4) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all of the research activity submitted, showing some evidence of international excellence. (Same definition)
- 3a (3) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in over two-thirds of the research activity submitted, possibly showing evidence of international excellence. (Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in a majority of the sub-areas of activity, or to international level in some)
- 3b (3) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in more than half of the research activity submitted. (Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in a majority of the sub-areas of activity, or to international level in some)
- 2 (2) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in up to half of the research activity submitted. (Same definition)
- 1 (1) Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in none, or virtually none, of the research activity submitted. (Same definition)
The 2008 RAE will use a different scale based on rating individual researches rather than Universities as a whole.
[edit] Assessment process
The assessment process for the RAE focuses on research grants obtained and quality of research outputs (which usually means papers published in academic journals). Each subject panel determines precise rules within general guidance. For the 2008 RAE, participants are to submit their best four research outputs from between January 2001 and October 2007.
In response to prior criticism and developments in employment law, the 2008 RAE does more to take into account part-time workers or those new to a sufficient level of seniority to be included in the process.
[edit] Criticism
The RAE has not been without its critics, since 1996 the AUT has repeatedly reiterated its policy of opposition to the Research Assessment Exercise [1]. NATFHE has also voiced opposition [2]. According to the AUT:
- The RAE has had a disastrous impact on the UK higher education system, leading to the closure of departments with strong research profiles and healthy student recruitment. It has been responsible for job losses, discriminatory practices, widespread demoralisation of staff, the narrowing of research opportunities through the over-concentration of funding and the undermining of the relationship between teaching and research.
[edit] Planned changes to RAE system
It was announced in the 2006 Budget that after the 2008 exercise a system of metrics would be developed in order to inform future allocations of QR funding.
