Contribution to Knowledge and Understanding policy deep dive

Register your interest in co-developing REF 2029 policy 

Please register your interest in contributing to the co-development of the REF 2029 Contribution to Knowledge and Understanding (CKU) policy and guidance.  

This will cover topics including, but not limited to: 

  • substantive link with a submitting unit 
  • supporting a representative distribution of outputs  
  • author attribution with multi author papers 
  • the portability of outputs 
  • interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary outputs 
  • diverse outputs 

Background

For REF 2029 we are developing the policy framework with engagement and collaboration throughout the process. We will harness stakeholder perspectives to help us analyse different policy options. 

The REF 2029 Initial decisions set out the move to fully break the link between individuals and outputs. This policy was broadly supported in responses to Initial decisions consultation. There are several associated policy decisions that will help ensure that the exercise remains robust, that people and their careers are protected, and that the associated burden for the sector remains proportionate. 

We understand that there is discussion in the sector about many aspects of the CKU policy, including the REF 2029 policy on portability. We recognise that clarity on this policy is important in the context the sector is operating in. We will work with the sector to further develop this policy area through a policy deep dive in the new year.  

How to register your interest in participating 

If you would like to register your interest in participating in this event, please send a short email to info@ref.ac.uk by 9 January 2025 using the subject ‘REF CKU policy deep dive’. 

Please include the following in your email: 

  • your full name 
  • the HEI you work at (or name of your employer) 
  • confirmation you have the support of your institution to spend time working with us on this (we will cover travel and subsistence costs) 
  • provide a short outline of your experience of output selection and the complexities you anticipate in the implementation of CKU policy 

We anticipate the working group having between 10 and 20 members and we will invite a group of participants which includes representatives from: 

  • staff from different careers, career stages and disciplines 
  • a range of different nations and regions 
  • research-intensive HEIs 
  • teaching-intensive HEIs 
  • post-92 HEIs 
  • at least one small, specialist institution 

How we will manage your data 

The information submitted will be used to support the process for selecting participants in policy development workshops for the Research Excellence Framework (REF). Your personal information will be used to process your expression of interest and to contact you about your involvement. Data that identifies you will only be viewed by members of staff from UKRI (Research England), and external colleagues employed to support this piece of work.  

Research England is a council of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Further information on how we use personal data, and how you can exercise your rights as a data subject, can be found in the UK Research and Innovation privacy notice. UKRI complies with current data protection law in the UK and we process and handle personal information in accordance with this. UKRI reserves the right to publish and share anonymised summarised information.