2015

Keele's strong performance in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) was further confirmed this week with the announcement of the first research funding allocations based on the results of the REF by HEFCE.

 

Keele's mainstream quality-related (QR) research funding allocation will increase by 18% from its previous allocation, which was based on the results of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, the third largest increase amongst traditional research-intensive/led universities.

 

Professor Mark Ormerod, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, said: "this significant increase in our research funding allocation from a fixed total funding pot is a tremendous outcome for Keele, and highlights how well we did in the REF, significantly improving our performance compared to in the 2008 RAE, with some outstanding performances in some areas. Achieving the level of improved performance we did whilst submitting the same proportion of staff as we did in the last RAE is particularly impressive and, together with our submission strategy, has resulted in this substantial increase in research funding. Most research-intensive institutions made more selective submissions to the REF than they did in the last RAE, some considerably so, and many have seen significant reductions in their research funding allocation as a result.

 

"Our research funding allocation for each of the next six years will be based on the results of the REF, so this significant increase in research funding will provide a strong financial basis, together with our very significant growth in research grant income and research student numbers in recent years, to support our ambitions to continue to grow and enhance our world-leading research across the university over the next five years".