REF 2028 changes send ‘strong message’ on equality

Proposed changes “likely to have a positive impact on groups with protected characteristics”, analysis says

An increased emphasis on people and culture in the next research-assessment exercise sends a “strong message” to institutions to create an inclusive research system, according to an assessment of proposed changes to the next Research Excellence Framework.

On behalf of the four funding bodies of the UK—Research England, the Scottish Funding Council, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, and the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland—Research England outlined a number of early decisions that had been taken on the shape of the UK’s next research-assessment exercise, which determines the amount of public funding universities receive, on 15 June.