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18 December 2008

Million+ comments on Research Assessment Exercise results


The process of assessing research quality in UK higher education institutions draws to a close with the release of the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) results today (Thursday).

The results show that 84% of all submissions were judged to contain at least 5% world-leading quality research; they also demonstrate strength across the sector in internationally and nationally excellent research. These results will be used to allocate over £1.5 billion to universities each year from 2009.

Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of the university think-tank Million+ said, “These results confirm that there is significant evidence of world-leading research and research of international excellence throughout the sector. The Government should now have the confidence to invest in the UK’s research base by funding high quality research wherever it is found and investing in research of national excellence to build capacity for the future. This would have the advantage of adding value to the critical relationship between teaching and research and would boost the contribution that universities can make to counter the impact of the recession”

ENDS

Notes to editors

  1. The distribution of Quality-Related research funding is subject to a three stage process:
    a) Assessment of research quality through the Research Assessment Exercise
    b) Priorities for funding set-out by the Secretary of State, Rt. Hon John Denham MP in a grant letter to the chairman of the Funding Council (circa Jan 2009)
    c) Assessment and interpretation of those priorities by the Funding Council with allocations to universities announced in March 2009
  2. QR funding provides universities with funds to invest in research infrastructure (Facilities, staff).
  3. QR funding will rise to £2 billion per annum by 2010.
  4. The QR allocations determine investment in research funding in universities for a 5 year period i.e. up to 2013.
  5. For more information please contact Gemma Tumelty, Public Affairs Officer on 0207 7171657 or 07900 277819.