British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
British Academy urges re-think on research timetable
The British Academy has welcomed the “light touch” peer review approach to the humanities and social sciences proposed in the new framework for assessing research excellence in universities. But it urges that the planning timetable be brought forward, in order to avoid disadvantaging the humanities and social sciences.
The timetable currently proposed by HEFCE (the Higher Education Funding Council for England) would announce the new framework for science-based disciplines in 2008/09 but not until the end of 2010 for humanities, arts and social science disciplines. The new-style assessments to determine levels of future government funding would take place in 2013.
“This timetable would lead to major uncertainties and insufficient time for institutions to undertake the necessary planning,” said Dr Robin Jackson, Chief Executive of the British Academy. “We are urging HEFCE to try to provide clarity for all academic disciplines by the end of the 2008/09 academic year.”
The Academy also warns of the dangers of excessively reducing the number of expert panels managing the new assessments. While keen to support a “light touch” process of peer review that would lessen the burden on university departments, it stresses that there are too many different fields of study across the humanities and social sciences to consolidate into larger groupings (as HEFCE proposes) in a way that the academic community would find workable.
Stressing that it is not, in principle, against the introduction of metrics to inform and support a lighter touch peer review process, the Academy nonetheless advises caution. “Metrics have to be a credible proxy for other forms of review,“ said Dr Jackson. “The British Academy does not believe, for the majority of humanities and social science disciplines, that these exist yet. ”
The Academy’s response expresses its willingness to help HEFCE develop workable new frameworks to simplify and streamline the new review processes, including seeking to identify robust and appropriate metrics that could support the new light touch peer review process.
To read the Academy’s full response to the consultation click here: http://www.britac.ac.uk/reports/ref/.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Published:
15 February 2008
- For media enquiries please contact, Michael Reade, External Relations: m.reade@britac.ac.uk / 020 7969 5263.
- The British Academy is the National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences.
- Established by Royal Charter in 1902, the British Academy is an independent learned society promoting the humanities and social sciences. It is composed of Fellows elected in recognition of their distinction as scholars in the humanities and social sciences. The Academy distributes funding to support high quality research.
- More information about the Academy may be found at: http://www.britac.ac.uk