Use of RRE output grades
23 Apr 2019
Message from Professor Colette Fagan, Vice-President for Research on behalf of the University Research Strategy Group
Dear colleague,
Following recent discussion at Senate let me remind you about the following guidance with respect to the use of Research Review Exercise (RRE) output grades in Schools. This guidance was adopted nearly two years ago and is part of our HR policies and guidelines, available on Staffnet.
As a research intensive university we are committed to maintaining an ambitious and supportive place in which our researchers thrive and give their best throughout their career, which is summarised in our University statement of research expectations.
As part of our research strategy, including preparation for the UK’s Research Excellence Framework assessment, we run the RRE in which publications are peer reviewed and assigned an estimate grade using the REF criteria.
How are RRE grades used?
Heads of School use RRE grades as one indicator to inform their assessment of the quality of the aggregate research output profile (i.e. the School and Unit of Assessment profiles), including for our preparations of our submission to the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
They are aware that RRE grades for specific outputs may be revised and recalibrated by the Unit of Assessment coordinating team as part of the preparation for the REF2021 submission, and in light of new information about the output, such as subsequent citation rates or prizes.
When assessing an individual’s research profile for probation or promotion, or during PDR discussions, other indicators of output quality pertinent to the discipline or field are used as the primary source of evidence (for example, peer review, referee comments, article citations, book reviews, etc.).
The assessment of output quality is one part of the assessment of an individual’s overall research performance, along with other factors such as the record of PGR supervision and research funding as detailed in the probation and promotion guidelines. This is in line with the implementation of the University’s statement of research expectations.
RRE grades in probation, promotion and other assessments of research performance
For the avoidance of doubt, while we have no evidence that this has taken place, we wish to clarify that RRE grades must not be presented in the paperwork for probation or promotion by either the applicant or in accompanying supporting statements; or be introduced in discussion in probation and promotion committees. If submitted by individuals in their paperwork then this information should be redacted before it reaches the committee.
In addition, RRE grades cannot be used to trigger disciplinary procedures (or the grounds under which disciplinary procedures for academic performance are or are not invoked).
Further information and support
Further information, including the full statement of the guideline on the use of RRE grades is available on the StaffNet pages related to academic probation, promotions and PDR.
Further information about how our Faculty and School teams are working together to prepare our REF2021 submission, and associated resources to help colleagues prepare their contribution to the output, impact and environment parts of the submission can be found at the REF and RRE website on StaffNet.
Professor Colette Fagan
Vice-President for Research