Consultation response: Royal Society positions on second Research Excellence Framework (REF)

Dual support underpins the UK’s world-leading research system. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) governs one of the two complementary funding streams, namely a block grant that can be used flexibly by institutions to support a sustainable high quality research environment, according to its research strategy.

The Society supports the Stern Review's call for an institutionally-focused REF. This will require a new, more holistic way of assessing research quality, which should be based on the institution’s research environment, evidenced by a portfolio of research outputs from its constituent departments.

The Society has responded to HEFCE's consultation on the second Research Excellence Framework.