REF 2014 results: A message from the President
18 Dec 2014
The results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) for all universities in the UK have now been received
We have only had a short time to consider the data but at first sight they show a positive outcome across the University.
At a headline level, 83% of research activity at The University of Manchester is judged to be “world-leading” (4*) or “internationally excellent” (3*), with 35% at 4*. This confirms the University’s place as one of the UK’s top research universities – in fifth place in terms of research power (grade point average times number of staff submitted; and on 4*/3* times number of staff submitted).
There are a number of other ways of analysing the results and the scores for the various components (outputs, environment and impact). Given the richness and complexity of the data, it is important not to draw premature conclusions. We will be analysing the data at a University and discipline level over the coming weeks and sharing this with you as soon as it is available.
What is clear now is that we can celebrate those areas which have performed well. These span the full range of academic research and include: Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy, Biological Sciences, Electrical and Electronic Engineering/Materials, Physics, Computer Science and Informatics, Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering, Business and Management Studies, Sociology, Anthropology and Development Studies and Modern Languages and Linguistics.
The University’s performance has been greatly assisted by all the work that colleagues have done to assemble powerful 'impact case studies' (which demonstrate how our research is having a genuine influence of the lives of real people, from new drugs and inventions to public policy) and by our excellent research environment.
Although we are clearly one of only a handful of the UK’s leading research universities, our strategic plan Manchester 2020 sets out some even more ambitious research goals and whilst many disciplines are on track, some others are performing below the level we need to realise our ambition. The detailed analysis that we will be conducting in the New Year will identify priorities for attention.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the contribution you have made to the University’s results. I am personally committed to working with colleagues to use this very sound base for further improvement so that we can reach our goal of becoming one of the top 25 universities in the world by 2020.
Professor Nancy Rothwell
President and Vice-Chancellor