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Research and Business Engagement

Get ready for the next Research Review Exercise (RRE)

14 Nov 2024

The next annual mandatory exercise for all REF-eligible staff will be opening in January 2025.

The University’s Research Review Exercise (RRE) – the annual mandatory peer review of research outputs for all REF-eligible staff – will be opening in January 2025.

What is the RRE?

The Research Review Exercise (RRE) is an annual mandatory exercise for all REF-eligible staff. It consists of the peer review of research outputs published since 1st January 2021.

Who is eligible?

The RRE includes all staff on the University payroll as of 1st December 2024 who are:

  • On academic ‘teaching and research’ contracts.  

OR

  • On ‘research only’ contracts and meet the REF 2021 definition of an ‘independent researcher’, (i.e. an individual who undertakes self-directed research, rather than carrying out another individual's research programme).

The following staff are therefore not included in RRE:

  • Staff with explicit teaching-focused or teaching and scholarship contracts.
  • Research assistants and research associates who are not ‘independent researchers’.

You will be contacted directly in January if you are eligible for RRE.

What do I need to do now?

In advance of RRE opening, you should:

Check your Pure profile is up to date

  • Continue to make sure your outputs meet Open Access (OA) requirements
  • Check your research outputs are up to date. You can find further guidance on adding content to Pure.
  • Add any affiliations to University Research Platforms, institutes, and/ or other key internal groups to your profile.

Make sure you have an ORCID and that this is linked to your Pure profile.

Continue to make sure your outputs meet Open Access (OA) requirements

  • To be eligible for the next REF, all journal articles and peer-reviewed conference proceedings need to meet REF Open Access requirements. The University Library offers guidance on understanding Open Access
  • The easiest way to ensure you meet OA requirements is to use the Open Access Gateway.
  • A reminder that ‘long form’ outputs such as monographs, book chapters and trade books, are exempt from REF 2029 OA requirements.

What will I need to do in January?

In January, eligible staff will be contacted by their faculty and asked to request a review of up to four of their outputs, which they believe are likely to be judged internationally excellent (3*) or world-leading (4*) based on REF 2021 criteria. Reviews will be requested via Pure, and guidance will be provided to help with this.

Staff from FBMH or FHUMS will not be required to re-request a review of outputs previously proposed for a faculty-led RRE in 2024. It is recognised that some staff may not have 3* or 4* outputs at this stage in the REF cycle, or new outputs since the last RRE.

Where can I find more information?

More information, including the full guidance and FAQs, will be available on a dedicated StaffNet page to be launched closer to RRE. Eligible staff will be notified of this directly.