The Research Excellence Framework Strategy Committee (REFSC) is responsible for overseeing the School’s preparations for, and submission to, the Research Excellence Framework (REF). In particular, it aims to optimise the submission that the School makes to the REF.
In pursuance of its aims, the REFSC has the following rights and responsibilities:
(i) To maximise the benefit of the REF to the School.
(ii) To make financial decisions when allocating funds for targeted assistance (e.g. extension of sabbatical leave/teaching assistance) or providing assistance for external reviews of research outputs.
(iii) To make strategic decisions when assigning members of staff to particular units of assessment and on the inclusion of members of staff in the Research Excellence Framework, consistent with HEFCE’s equal opportunities guidance and equal opportunities legislation.
(iv) To ensure that information relevant to the exercise is disseminated to academic/research staff.
(v) To request information that will identify strengths and weaknesses in the submission and having identified weaknesses to provide solutions to improve the School’s submission in the areas identified.
(vi) To seek guidance from relevant individuals/institutions to ensure that the committee remains informed – to the best of its ability – of REF guidance, criteria and initiatives.
(vii) To oversee and guide the School’s submission of data to HEFCE, which will involve interaction with the External Relations Division, Human Resources, Finance Division, Academic Registrar’s Division, Web Services and the Library.
(viii) To comply with all equal opportunities legislation in its decision making capacity and to operate under the terms of the School’s Equality Code of Conduct for the preparation of the REF 2014 submission at all times.
Mode of Operation
The REFSC is a subcommittee of the Research Committee. All sub-committees shall operate under the strategic direction of the Research Committee to which they shall report on an annual basis or more frequently as the Research Committee requires and to which they can make recommendations.
The Chair of REFSC shall be the Pro Director for Research.
The Committee meets at least once per term, and more frequently as required.