The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s world-leading system for assessing the excellence of research in higher education institutions. The REF outcomes are used to calculate about £2 billion per year of public funding for universities’ research, and affect their international reputations. The results also inform strategic decisions about national research priorities. The next REF will be undertaken in 2021 by the four UK higher education funding bodies.
To ensure they have the full breadth and depth of expertise required to assess the submitted case studies, REF panel members assess the impact element of submissions, attend relevant panel meetings and provide advice on the impact case studies they have assessed. Panel members are individuals from outside academia with relevant skills and experience in using research.
REF 2021 call for nominations
The RIBA is one of the approved bodies who can nominate new panel members and we have been requested to submit our list of possible candidates by Friday 3 April 2020.
REF 2021 is looking for people with experience in the following areas:
- Environmental issues (ecosystem services, well-being, resilience, natural resources management)
- Urban and regional planning (incl policy and practice, economic development, environment, spatial analysis)
- Construction management/Construction engineering
If you are a RIBA Member, have experience in the above areas and are interested in applying for this role, please download and complete the form below and return it to Steven Cross at steven.cross@riba.org by 5pm on Monday 23 March 2020.
All applications will be assessed by an independent panel of RIBA members with the successful candidates being submitted to REF for approval.
What are the benefits of being a panel member?
Over 250 research users participated in the expert panels in REF 2014. They enjoyed bringing their professional perspectives to the assessment and appreciated the opportunity to contribute to a crucial part of the UK’s research funding landscape. According feedback provided by the REF, research users gained the following benefits:
- Insight into current developments in research relevant to their professional lives
- Excellent networking opportunities with research leaders and senior professionals in private, public or third party sectors
- An enhanced appreciation of the connections that can be made between researchers and stakeholders
- Increased understanding of the potential barriers to engagement with researchers and how to overcome them
- Opportunities to encourage better understanding of organisations’ research needs
- A chance to contribute to the allocation of public funds
