Narrative statements describing how UK universities uphold research integrity and manage security risks are likely to be required for the next Research Excellence Framework (REF) under efforts to measure the quality of an institution’s academic culture.
With guidance on submissions and impact largely finalised for the REF 2029, universities are awaiting news on how the next exercise will assess “strategy, people and research environment” (SPRE), an element worth 20 per cent of an institution’s overall score.
It follows extensive work to find quantitative metrics that could be used to compare the strength of universities’ research culture. Only a few indicators tested by a pilot found “reasonable agreement” among panellists asked to assess them, with the exercise now likely to revert to a largely narrative-based exercise.
Ahead of the publication of formal guidance in autumn 2026, the REF will share the draft assessment criteria for SPRE on 31 July when it launches a sector-wide survey over the summer to “seek feedback on the clarity of selected elements before they are finalised”.
Attention is likely to turn to the institution-level element of SPRE, which will be worth 60 per cent of the environment score, with unit-level statements worth 40 per cent.
