Overview of the Research Assessment Exercise Iain Richardson School of Engineering and the Built Environment

The Research Assessment Exercise What is it ? When will it happen ? How is research assessed ? What will be the outcome ?

What is RAE08 for ? The primary purpose of RAE 2008, the fourth such national exercise since 1992, is to produce quality profiles (see paragraph 30 and Annex A) for each submission of research activity made by institutions. The four higher education funding bodies intend to use the quality profiles to determine their grant for research to the institutions which they fund with effect from Any HEI in the UK that is eligible to receive research funding from one of these bodies is eligible to participate. -Guidance on Submissions, June 05

RAE08 Assessment of research quality Applies to all UK universities Procedure: –Each major research area within a University submits a document –The document describes certain aspects of research –The document is reviewed by a Sub-Panel of subject experts –The Sub-Panel publishes a quality rating for the research. Why its important: –Money –Esteem –Credibility

RAE definition of research Original investigation undertaken in order to gain knowledge and understanding Includes: –Work directly relevant to commerce, industry and the public –Scholarship –Invention of ideas, images, performances, artefacts where these lead to new/improved insights –Use of existing knowledge to produce new or substantially improved materials, devices, products and processes Excludes: –Routine testing and analysis –Development of teaching materials that do not embody original research.

RAE08 timeline November 2007 Submit RAE document Jan 2001 recording starts 2007 recording ends: July / students and funding October / staff December / publications December 2008 Results published

Units of Assessment Main panels Electronic and Electrical Engineering Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering Mechanical.. Engineering Metallurgy and Materials A B C …. G …. O 25. General.. Engineering Sub panels

What is assessed RA0 and RA1: Research Staff RA2: Research Outputs RA3: Research Students RA4: Research Income RA5: Research Environment and Esteem

RA0 and RA1, Research Staff Summary data (RA0) and details (RA1) of staff selected for the Exercise Category A staff: (paid) academic staff in post on census date (Oct 07) whose main job function is research and/or teaching. Category B staff: (paid) academic staff who were in post during the review period ( ) but left before the census date. Category C staff: as A, but (typically) staff who dont have a contract/are unpaid (e.g. emeritus professors). Category D staff: as B, but (typically) staff who dont have a contract/are unpaid.

RA2, Outputs Up to 4 research outputs per Category A or C staff member E.g. journal articles, books, book chapters, published conference papers, etc… Typically these would be the four best outputs in print during the review period (Jan 01 – Dec 07) Each can be accompanied by a textual commentary (<300 words)

RA3, Research Students and Studentships Count of research degree students registered during each year of the review period Number + type of research degrees awarded during each year Number of new research degree studentships during each year (+ source of funding)

RA4, Research Income External research income during each year of the review period Required in categories (research councils, charities, government bodies, industry, etc). Income = spend on research from external awards Excludes RGU money (e.g. RDI), SRIF, formula-based HE funding.

RA5, Research Environment and Esteem Research structure, management and ethos Department + University support mechanisms Research groups Forward plans Evidence of esteem

Outcome of RAE08 Last RAE: –Grade 2, 3b, 3a, 4, 5 or 5* This RAE: –Quality profile, showing percentages of work that fits the following categories: –Unclassified: below nationally-recognised standard –One star: research of nationally-recognised significance –Two star: research of internationally-recognised significance –Three star: research that is internationally excellent –Four star: research that is world-leading

Outcome of RAE08 Unit of assessment A FTE staff submitted for assessment Percentage of research activity in the submission judged to meet the standard for: 4 star3 star2 star1 starunclassified Uni. X Uni. Y Sample quality profile

Generating the final quality profile Final profile is based on a weighted combination of the assessed quality levels E.g. Main Panel G: –Research Outputs: 50% –Esteem Indicators: 30% (includes external funding) –Research Environment: 20% (includes research degrees awarded) Other Main Panels place higher weighting on Outputs.

Conclusions RAE08 is an exercise to review research quality across the UKs HEIs The outcome is important to RGU because: –It will determine levels of central research funding –It will affect external perception of our research quality The outcome is dominated by the assessment of research output quality.