SPS academics join expert sub-panels to lead REF
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Professor Ailsa Henderson and Professor Tobias Kelly from the School of Social and Political Science (SPS) have been appointed to the expert sub-panels of the Research Excellence Framework (REF).
The REF is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. It provides benchmarking information for the higher education sector, and the outcomes are used to inform the allocation of public funding for universities’ research.
The REF first took place in 2014 and 2021. The next exercise is planned for 2029, and the REF has chosen the 34 expert sub-panels, which will lead the assessment of UK higher education research.
Professor Ailsa Henderson, Professor of Political Science at SPS, will be Deputy Chair for the sub-panel on Politics and International Relations.
Professor Tobias Kelly, Professor of Political and Legal Anthropology at SPS, will be Deputy Chair for the sub-panel on Anthropology and Development Studies.
The chairs and deputy chairs of the sub-panels will lead their units of assessment through the criteria-setting phase, beginning later this year, and through to the final assessment.
They are now working to appoint their full panels, ensuring that membership reflects the full range of required expertise. These appointments will be announced in summer 2025.