Blog Archives

Information on the Research Excellence Framework

Posted on behalf of Prof. Simon Denny

The following resources about the REF may be of interest to researchers reflecting on REF2014 and planning for REF2020:

From HEFCE’S REFlections conference – The presentations, project synopsis and completed project reports are available online at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/REFlections

From HEPI-Elsevier Research Conference –  The speaker presentations are available for download at http://www.hepi.ac.uk/2015/03/31/hepi-elsevier-conference-reflections-ref2014-next-royal-society-31-march-2015/

Meeting funders’ open access requirements – your views needed

NorthUni277Would you like to be submitted to the next REF?

Are you likely to bid for Research Council funding?

If the answer to either of those questions is ‘Yes’ then you may already know that you will be expected to publish your research articles, and maybe even your data, in an ‘open access’ manner (HEFCE, RCUK) .

But do you know how to go about doing this? Do you have any concerns about it? Do you need any help?

Read the rest of this entry

HEFCE announce new policy for open access in post 2014 REF

hefce80Following on from their two stage consultation process last year, HEFCE have just announced their new policy for open access in the post-2014 Research Excellence Framework.

The policy applies to all journal articles and conference proceedings accepted for publication after 1 April 2016, but not to monographs, other long-form publications, creative or non-text outputs, or data.

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HEFCE consultation on open access and REF post 2014 – 2nd stage

Continuing the two stage consultation process announced earlier this year, HEFCE has just announced a further consultation on its proposals for open access to post-2014 REF outputs.

The University of Northampton’s response to the first (informal) stage of the consultation is here.

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University response to HEFCE consultation on open access and the REF post 2014

hefce80The university has responded to HEFCE’s first consultation on open access and research assessment post 2014.

In support of their objective of increasing the proportion of research outputs that are made available in open access form, HEFCE’s proposals centred on the requirement that all research outputs submitted to future assessment exercises should be made open access as soon as possible after publication:

To support and encourage the further implementation of open access we intend to introduce a requirement that all outputs submitted to the post-2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise are published on an open-access basis, where this is reasonably achievable and where, given the medium in which the output is presented, the concept of ‘open access’ applies.” (HEFCE, 2013, para 8)

HEFCE requested responses focused on several key issues, as follows: Read the rest of this entry

HEFCE consultation on open access and submissions to the REF post 2014

hefce80In July 2012 HEFCE announced that it would consult with the HE sector on how to ensure the widest possible access to research outputs submitted to post 2014 REF exercises.

The first step of the planned two-stage consultation process is a letter inviting institutions and individuals to comment and advise on the consultation proposals.  Broadly speaking, these cover:

  • Funding body expectations for open access in post 2014 REF
  • The role of institutional repositories
  • Embargoes and licences
  • Exceptions
  • Monograph publications
  • Open data

The University of Northampton Research and Enterprise Committee will be sending a response to HEFCE and welcomes your input to this.  Please leave a comment below or email Miggie Pickton with your response.

HEFCE’s deadline for responses is 25 March 2013 so your input by 18 March 2013 would be appreciated.  Thank you.

Must all postgrad research have ‘impact’?

Interesting piece in The Guardian last week – http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/nov/14/postgraduates-higher-education