After yesterday's publication of the results of the Research Excellent Framework (#REF2014) comes the post-mortem, introspection and then inevitable debate about REF2020. We will have to wait a wee while before we learn more about the impact assessment aspect of #REF2014 and the overall story it tells us about how research in higher education instiutions... Continue Reading →
Rising cancer rates and the NHS reforms…plus NIHR and ‘impact’
I suspect you have seen today's news bulletins covering Macmillan Cancer Support's report predicting a significant rise in the number of people who will get cancer. To quote the opening lines of their statement today: Cancer rates are increasing at such a rate that research shows 42% of people who die in this country will... Continue Reading →
HEFCE Announces Impact Weighting for REF 2014
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has today announced the weighting for 'impact' for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) in 2014. It will be 20% with the expectation that it will increase in future exercises. Sounds like a sound and balanced decision given the history of the debate but also the learning from... Continue Reading →
Dressing down the naysayers on public engagement
I have been rather disappointed not to have bumped into a bear or monkey on the tube today. But there is still time. Who knows what I shall do if I happen to bump into a panda. Will it be a real panda fleeing Chinese scientists? Or a Chinese scientist tracking down an errant panda? I'll let you... Continue Reading →
Research Impact
At some point I shall steel myself to write a lengthier blog on the subject of evaluating research impact. Not least because it is a subject dominating the higher education press right now. However, this week the following report by Action Medical Research - one of our members - came across my desk. And I thought it... Continue Reading →
