REF 2021 Code of Practice revision summary

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Background

Consistent with the information provided in the Guidance on revisions to REF 2021 (REF 2020/02), the background to the Code has been updated as follows:

  • Submission date changed to 31 March 2021 (page 4)
  • End of assessment period for impact changed to 31 December 2020 (page 4)
  • Addition of footnotes explaining the provisions for submitting delayed outputs and listing delayed outputs as references to the underpinning research in impact case studies (page 4)
  • Period when REF 2021 submissions will be published changed to summer 2022 (page 6)

Code of Practice

The Code of Practice has been updated to reflect amendments to internal and external timelines:

Part 1: Introduction

  • Addition of section 1.2: Revisions to Code of Practice; introductory paragraph explaining that, whilst the principles, approach and commitments outlined in the Code have not changed, Covid-19 has affected some of the timescales (page 9)
  • Renumbering of sections after 1.2 (pages 9 and 10)
  • Section 1.5 (previously 1.4): Communication; addition of bullet point detailing how the revised Code will be communicated to staff (page 11)

Part 3: Determining Research Independence

  • Section 3.1.1: The indicative date for determining the final list of 'research-only' staff who meet the REF definition of an independent researcher, and communicating decisions to eligible staff and UOA Planning Groups, has been changed from the end of August to the end of October 2020; the diagram showing the indicative timings for the process has been adjusted accordingly (pages 13, 14 and 15)
  • Consistent with the adjustments in indicative timings above, the final dates for submitting informal and formal appeals have been removed; the requirement to submit appeals within 10 working days of receiving the decision remains in place (pages 16 and 17)

Part 4: Selection of Outputs

  • Section 4.3: Consistent with the new submission deadline of March 2021 and the new provisions for including delayed outputs in submissions, the date for internal approval of final submissions has been changed from November 2020 to March 2021 (page 19)
  • Section 4.4.6: Inclusion of a further deadline in October 2020 for staff to disclose individual circumstances (page 22); this will allow consideration of any Covid-19 related circumstances (along with any other newly disclosed circumstances) using the University’s existing processes before final submission decisions are made.
  • Section 4.7.1: Consistent with the revised date for receipt of outcomes on unit circumstances from the UK REF Equality and Diversity Advisory Group (EDAP), the timing of receipt of the outcomes of unit circumstances requests has been changed from 'before the REF census date' to September 2020 (page 26)