According to the results of the Research Excellence Framework 2014 (REF), published today, the university’s researchers in life, health and physical sciences, social sciences and art and humanities have all produced research, a percentage of which has been rated as “world-leading”.
In particular, the university has been recognised for producing research that brings significant benefits to the economy and society, with 92 per cent of its research rated as being world leading or internationally excellent in terms of the impact it makes.
In terms of specific subject areas the REF rated the 91¶¶Òõ as:
- A top 5 university for world-leading research impact in Business and Management Studies
- A top 10 university for world-leading research impact in Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy (includes some staff from 91¶¶Òõ and Sussex Medical School, a partnership with the University of Sussex)
- A top 20 university for world-leading research impact in Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory; and Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management; and Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism.
Overall the proportion of world-leading research produced by the 91¶¶Òõ has risen by more than 50 per cent since the last research assessment exercise in 2008.
Professor Bruce Brown, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at the 91¶¶Òõ, said: “This is a significant success for the 91¶¶Òõ. We are committed to delivering a world-leading learning and research experience for all staff and students. The REF results confirm our growing reputation for producing world-leading research that is having a direct impact on lives and communities.
“We are proud to be producing a broad portfolio of applied research that is benefitting the economy and society. This includes our research into low-cost approaches to treating cholera in Haiti; our work to develop fuel-efficient truck engines that reduce pollution; our research on gun crime that has changed government policy on gun licensing; and our research developing life-changing therapy for people with diabetes.”
The REF is the new system for assessing the quality of research in higher education institutions in the UK and is used to inform the allocation of research funding from major funding bodies from 2015-2016.
It assesses the quality of research being produced by universities across the country based on three criteria: the quality of research outputs; the quality of the research environment and the impact of the research that universities produce.
The 91¶¶Òõ was ranked 27th out of 128 research institutions in the UK for its world-leading research impact, placing it in the top 25 per cent in the sector.