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Blog

The HEPI Blog aims to make brief, incisive contributions to the higher education policy landscape. It is circulated to our subscribers and published online. We welcome guest submissions, which should follow our Instructions for Blog Authors. Submissions should be sent to our Blog Editor, Josh Freeman, at [email protected].

  • Making sense of today’s #REF21 results: 7 points of note

    12 May 2022 by Nick Hillman

    1. The main feeling for many university staff today will be relief but the process is not over yet. The seven years of work and waiting since the last Research Excellence Framework (REF) results may have finished and, in very many instances, institutions and departments – and beneath it all, therefore,…

  • REF2021: What have we learned?

    12 May 2022 by Dinah Birch

    Following the announcement of the results of REF2021 today, join us in conversation with David Sweeney, Executive Chair of Research England, at 3pm. Register for the webinar here. This blog was written by Professor Dinah Birch, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Cultural Engagement and Professor of English Literature at the University of Liverpool, and chair…

  • The Research Excellence Framework: Time for change?

    11 May 2022 by Cillian Ryan and Di Bailey

    Following the announcement of the results of REF2021 tomorrow, join us in conversation with David Sweeney, Executive Chair of Research England. Register for the webinar here. This blog was written by Professor Cillian Ryan, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) and Professor Di Bailey, Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at Nottingham Trent University. The…

  • Research assessment – Time for a rethink? By Bahram Bekhradnia #REF21

    11 May 2022 by Bahram Bekhradnia

    Following the announcement of the results of REF2021 tomorrow, join us in conversation with David Sweeney, Executive Chair of Research England. Register for the webinar here. Bahram Bekhradnia has worked in education policy for more than 40 years. Bahram founded HEPI in 2002 and was its Director until January 2014, since when he has…

  • REF 2028? Think Again

    10 May 2022 by Peter Mandler

    This blog was written by Peter Mandler, Professor of Modern Cultural History at the University of Cambridge. Peter is on Twitter @PeterMandler1. This is the fourth in a series of blogs reflecting on the REF. The full list of blogs in the series can be found here. Following the announcement of…

  • REF2021: The Research General Election

    9 May 2022 by Andrew Wathey

    This blog was written by Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at Northumbria University, Newcastle. This is the third in a series of blogs reflecting on the REF, following Professor Geoff Rodgers’ blog yesterday which you can read here and Nick Hillman’s blog from Saturday. By repute, research assessment – once…

  • REF2021: Reflections on purpose before the big reveal

    8 May 2022 by Geoff Rodgers

    This blog was written by Professor Geoff Rodgers, Vice Provost (Research) at Brunel University London. This is the second in a series of blogs reflecting on the REF, following HEPI Director Nick Hillman’s blog yesterday which you can read here. As REF results day approaches, feelings of anxiety before the big reveal begin…