British Academy President calls for a fundamental debate on the future of the REF

Ahead of the results of the 2014 research assessment framework (REF) for UK universities being announced on 18 December, the Presidents of the British Academy and the Royal Society, Lord Stern and Sir Paul Nurse, have called for a review of the system, and the monetary and human resource costs it consumes. In a joint letter to Times Higher Education today, they state "we believe it is time to ask crucial questions about whether we are assessing quality in the most sensible way and whether the burden could be reduced and the value of the process enhanced". The full letter is available on the Times Higher Education website.