Brighton professors join the REF

Four professors from the University of Brighton have been invited to join the sub-panels for the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

The panel will include School of Sport and Service Management’s Professor Marina Novelli, Professor of Tourism and International Development and Academic Lead for Responsible Brighton Future.

Professor Novelli will be on the panel with the university’s Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Professor Phil Ashworth, Professor of Physical Geography; Professor Andy Hobson, Professor of Teacher Learning and Development; and Professor Darren Newbury, Professor of Photographic History who have also been selected for these prestigious appointments.

The University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Debra Humphris said: “With over 4,000 nominations for roles across the sub-panels, these successful appointments are great personal achievements and well-deserved recognition of their skills and expertise.

“They also confirm Brighton’s position as one of the leading new universities for research.”

The REF is used to assess the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The assessment is undertaken by the higher education funding bodies of the four UK member states and reviews the quality of research produced over a six-year period. Outcomes from the REF determine the allocation of over £1 Bn of direct funding into universities per year via what is termed a ‘quality-related research algorithm’.

The next assessment will be conducted in 2021 when all higher education institutions in all subject disciplines will be invited to make submission of their research outputs and statements about the research infrastructure and impact of their work.

The REF is carried out by expert panels for each of the 34 subject-based units of assessment (UOA). Professor Novelli has been appointed to REF Sub-panel 24 (Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism), Professor Ashworth, to Sub-panel 14 (Geography and Environmental Studies), Professor Hobson to Sub-panel 23 (Education), and Professor Newbury to Sub-panel 32 (Art and Design, History, Practice and Theory).

The REF assesses research to secure “the continuation of a world-class, dynamic and responsive research base across the full academic spectrum within UK higher education”. Further members are still to be appointed to a small number of panels.

Professor Tara Dean, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, said: “Our research tackles global challenges, solves practical problems and seeks to improve lives. We are delighted to have our researchers involved in this important assessment of the tangible impact of the nation’s research efforts.”