The REF team are busy working to launch the recruitment process for REF 2029 main and sub-panels in December. This marks an important milestone in the development of the exercise. The REF panels will be composed of leading experts in their respective disciplines and play a crucial role in the REF. The panels are responsible for assessing the quality of research submissions against the established criteria.
Their assessments help to:
- inform the allocation of block-grant research funding to HEIs based on research quality
- provide accountability for public investment in research and produce evidence of the benefits of this investment
- provide insights into the health of research in HEIs in the UK
An open recruitment process
For REF 2029, the panel recruitment process is moving to open applications, where anyone can submit their own application rather than being nominated by a sector body. By adopting this approach, we are aiming to enhance transparency, broaden the pool of potential applicants, and ensure that the panels reflect the diversity of expertise within each discipline.
Call for diverse expertise
We are seeking applications from individuals with a wide range of expertise and experience, including those from underrepresented groups, diverse research backgrounds and practices, or individuals outside of academia who engage with research.
This includes:
- individuals with expertise in research outputs
- individuals with expertise in research impact and engagement
- individuals with expertise in people, culture, and environment
- international experts
- interdisciplinary experts
Read about our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in REF 2029.
Collaboration with sector bodies
We are actively collaborating with sector bodies such as academies and learned societies, to raise awareness of the panel opportunities, to encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates and to help us ensure that the REF 2029 panels reflect the disciplinary diversity of the sector. We aim for sector bodies to have an active role in the recruitment process and to help shape REF 2029 panels.
While we are committed to the aims behind the change to open recruitment, we also recognise the vital role that sector bodies play in ensuring that panels are reflective of the diversity within their disciplines and can command the confidence of their disciplinary communities.
We will be circulating a survey about this to sector bodies soon.
Further information and keeping informed
We will publish full details of how to apply to the panels in December. This will include information around the panel recruitment process, the eligibility criteria, the application process, and timelines.
To keep informed about REF 2029 main and sub-panel recruitment, sign up to REF email updates or follow us on LinkedIn or X/Twitter.