Research Excellence Framework significantly increases UK university output but not efficiency, study shows

Phys.org  May 10, 2023 A performance-based research funding system (PRFS) is a nationwide incentive scheme that promotes and rewards university research performance through competition for government funding. The UK’s PRFS, currently the Research Excellence Framework (REF), is considered the oldest, largest, and most developed payment-by-results system in academia worldwide. Surprisingly, and despite the strong criticisms, little has been done to quantitatively and casually evaluate the intended and unintended effects of the PRFSs. An international team of researchers (UK, Spain, Italy) evaluated the incremental impact of the REF 2014 in the fields of Economics and Business. They used a synthetic control […]

Engineering new solutions to the challenges of the future

Eurekalert  September 13, 2018 The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) the main funding body for engineering and physical sciences research in the UK, will support the investigation, refinement and execution of new approaches that could have wide-ranging impact. The projects will bring together a wide range of academic and industry partners to share challenges, expertise, experiences, insights and data. The projects under this round of grants are – Probing Multiscale Complex Multiphase Flows with Positrons for Engineering and Biomedical Applications, Integrated Development of Low-Carbon Energy Systems (IDLES): A Whole-System Paradigm for Creating a National Strategy, and Low Temperature […]