Research Profiling Exercise
07 Feb 2011
Update on progress from Professor Luke Georghiou and Professor Rod Coombs
We are writing to update you on the progress of the University's second Research Profiling Exercise (RPE) and how the information gathered will inform our preparations for the forthcoming national Research Excellence Framework (REF).
We would like to begin by thanking the 1872 staff (more than 85% of eligible current staff) who viewed and/or updated their personal research profiles via the RPE web portal. Of this number, 871 (41.6% of current staff) also contributed additional information about their research activity, including its social and economic impact. This information will be of great value in preparing the University for the REF (the successor to RAE) where impact will be a key element of assessment.
The supporting technologies for the exercise - the RPE web portal and Manchester eScholar - have been enhanced since the first RPE in 2009 and feedback about these has generally been very positive. Suggestions for further improvements to how these web services support RPE are very welcome and can be sent to:
The purposes of the Manchester eScholar repository (now perhaps the largest in the UK) extend far beyond RPE and a range of developments are in train to enhance the support and value it provides to the University's research community. More information about these developments will be made available in the near future - enquiries can be addressed to:
The next stage of the RPE process is for faculty assessment panels to meet in order to assess profiles for all eligible staff. These meetings will take place between late February and mid-April 2011.
Once all outcomes have been approved by the University's Profiling Group, individual grades and formative feedback will be made available to staff. The School, discipline and UoA profiles will be used for research planning and, particularly, to assess our position as we begin full scale preparation for the REF.
With thanks
Professor Luke Georghiou
Vice-President for Research and Innovation
Professor Rod Coombs
Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor