Changes announced for the next Research Excellence Framework (REF)

The next REF will conclude in 2028 and will assess research and impact between 2021 and 2027. REF 2028 drives research excellence across the UK, provides accountability for public investment in research, and informs the allocation of around £2 billion of block-grant research funding each year.

Some of the elements of REF 2028 have been decided and some remain under consultation with feedback closing on 6 October 2023.

Decisions already made for the high-level design of REF2028 include:

• The volume measure;
• The assessment elements and weighting
• The structure of submissions;
• Submitting of research outputs;
• Open access requirements;
• The required number of impact case studies;
• The research underpinning impact case studies;
• The Unit of Assessment (UOA) structure;
• Panel appointments.

Areas where further input is being sought from the sector include:

• The practical details concerning our proposed approach to the volume measure;
• The impacts and potential unintended consequences, and some practical details concerning output submissions;
• The impacts and potential unintended consequences of changes to the number and weighting of impact case studies;
• The UOA structure, only where significant issues might arise from the current structure;
• Potential measures to take into account the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The sector will have the opportunity to input into the detailed guidance and panel criteria for REF2028 during the criteria-setting phase in 2024.

Key changes between REF 2021 and REF 2028

Some of the key changes between REF 2021 and REF 2028 include:

1. Changes to the emphasis of assessment from the performance of individuals to the contribution institutions and disciplines make to healthy, dynamic and inclusive research environments.
2. That the assessment encompasses broader contributions to research and the research process.
3. An expansion of the definition of research excellence to ensure appropriate recognition is given to the people, culture and environments that underpin a vibrant and sustainable UK research system.
4. Building on changes made in the previous exercise, REF 2028 will be a more inclusive research assessment exercise, capturing the valuable contributions of a wider range of research and research-enabling staff.
5. REF 2028 will take a new approach to determining research volume, moving fully away from any assessment of individuals. Research volume will be determined from average staff numbers over multiple years. There will not be any minimum or maximum contributions of any individuals.
6. In REF 2028 the work of all researchers and research-enabling staff will be eligible for submission. These changes are intended to increase the inclusivity of the assessment and provide an environment that is supportive of researchers who move into academia from other sectors.

Three assessment elements

As with REF 2021, REF 2028 will be made up of three assessment elements, however changes to these elements have been proposed that will allow REF 2028 to recognise and reward a broader range of research outputs, activities and impacts and reward those institutions that attempt to create a positive research culture and support their research and research-enabling staff.

The three elements of the assessment will be renamed for REF 2028 and their content adjusted to reflect this. The weightings between the three elements will also be rebalanced.

The three elements are:

People and culture (25% weighting)

This element replaces the environment element of REF 2014 and 2021 and will be expanded to include an assessment of research culture. Evidence to inform assessment of this element will be collected at both institutional level and at the level of disciplinary submissions.

Contribution to knowledge and understanding (50% weighting)

This element expands the outputs element of REF 2014 and 2021. The assessment will continue to be largely based on assessment of submitted outputs. In REF 2028, however, at least 10% of the score will be based on evidence of the broader contributions to the advancement of the discipline.

Engagement and impact (25% weighting)

This element replaces the impact elements of REF 2014 and 2021, although it is similar to the impact element of 2014. Submissions will consist of both impact case studies and an accompanying statement to evidence engagement and impact activity beyond case studies.

Further details

More detailed information on the results of the FRAP and the proposals for REF 2028 can be found on the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) website.