UCU: Research Assessment Exercise

Motion

Motion text: Conference welcomes the recently announced decision not to use different systems to judge arts and sciences in the HEFCE proposed Research Excellence Framework (REF), since this would have been divisive and unequal. However, the use of metrics, such as citations, is still proposed; this will be unfair and misleading, and open to serious abuse. This approach will lead to an unjustified distortion of academic activity, with detriment to some sub-disciplines. This could have a serious effect on individual academic careers and forms a significant threat to academic freedom.
Conference calls on UCU Executive to establish an immediate full review of the REF, and to establish a vigorous and broadly-based campaign against damaging aspects of the proposals. The review and campaign should consider the wider context of university research funding, focusing on the effects of funding systems on careers and academic freedom.