Scope
The People, Culture and Environment (PCE) pilot panels will assist with the development of assessment processes for PCE elements of the REF 2029 exercise.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the assessment panels are to:
- provide early input into the development of indicators of PCE through engagement with the commissioned project on PCE indicators
- conduct an assessment of submissions made to the PCE pilot exercise including reading and scoring submissions and reaching agreed outcomes in meetings with the subject and/or institution level panel
- provide feedback on the assessment process participating in workshop meetings to help evaluate the assessment processes trialled in the pilot exercise
Panel roles
Panel co-chairs: Panel co-chairs will jointly select members of the assessment panels, steer the panels through their assessment of the PCE submissions in the pilot exercise, coordinate evaluation of the PCE assessment process and provide feedback to the REF team and REF Steering Group. The co-chairs will undertake ambassadorial roles to embed and promote the approach taken to support PCE in the REF.
Panel members: Eight subject-level panels will be appointed to conduct the unit level assessment in the following Units of Assessment (UoAs):
- Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy (UoA 3)
- Biological Sciences (UoA 5)
- Earth Systems and Environmental Science (UoA 7)
- Computer Science and Informatics (UoA 11)
- Business and Management Studies (UoA 17)
- Social Work and Social Policy (UoA 20)
- History (UoA 28)
- Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies (UoA 33)
Secretariat: Secretariat support will be provided for the assessment panels.
Each subject-level panel will consist of approximately twenty panel members including two co-chairs.
An institution-level panel will be composed of the co-chairs from the subject-level panels along with some additional members with general expertise in PCE and will conduct the assessment of institution-level statements.
Panel members will represent a diverse range of expertise and experience in matters relevant to PCE and REF assessment, this will include:
- knowledge of PCE in the academic sector and of its measurement and assessment
- a clear and comprehensive understanding of UK research assessment and its position in the wider research landscape and across the diversity of the sector
Ways of working
The PCE pilot panel co-chairs will establish with their panels, their preferred ways of working within the parameters set out.
It is anticipated that meetings will be held both in-person and virtually to facilitate efficient communication, accessibility, and use of resource. In-person meetings will be held at the outset of the assessment to support group cohesion and relationships and at the conclusion of assessment to facilitate agreement of pilot results, and to begin to gather feedback efficiently.
We anticipate the following meeting schedule:
- engagement with development of PCE indicators (September 2024)
- training workshop (February 2025)
- assessment meetings, 2 in-person and 3 virtual (April to July 2025)
- feedback workshop (August 2025)
Substantial additional work will be expected outside of the meetings for assessing and scoring PCE submissions. This work will be necessary preparation for the assessment meetings.
Reporting and accountability
The PCE pilot panels will report to the REF Steering Group, providing notes of panel discussions captured by the panel secretariat. This will include reporting of the assessment results, and feedback and evaluation of the indicators and processes for assessment of PCE in the pilot exercise.
The REF team and the REF Steering Group will publish a report on the work of the PCE pilot exercise drawing on the feedback provided by the PCE pilot panels.
PCE pilot panel members will be recruited as individuals and therefore may not send others in their place to deputise.
Decision-making
The co-chairs will make final recommendations to the REF Steering Group, on the panel’s advice and activity. The co-chairs will base those recommendations on the balanced view of the panel members, and their own perspective.
Members are encouraged to offer open and diverse perspectives to inform the co-chair’s decision-making process.
The REF Steering Group will hold the final decision on recommendations made by the PCE pilot panels.
Conflicts of interest
The panel will declare any conflicts of interest from the outset. This includes:
- direct employment with any organisation involved in the exercise
- direct benefit from any panel activities or recommendation – either financially or professionally
Conflicts of interest will be managed on a case-by-case basis throughout appointment.