RAE 2008
The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise was the fourth such exercise conducted to assess the quality of research activity being undertaken in UK higher education institutions. Submissions were made by universities in November 2007, covering research carried out during the period from January 2001 to December 2007.
The University of East London submitted some 110.4 FTE staff to nine units of assessment, representing a reduction both in staff volume and the number of units by comparison to RAE 2001, but this reduction was not uncommon amongst our benchmark comparator HEIs.
The RAE results were published not as a single grade as in previous RAE rounds, but as a 'quality profile' which shows the percentages of research activity in a submission judged to meet each of four quality levels. The results for UEL were as follows:
| Percentage of quality profile at each rating | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit of Assessment | 4* | 3* | 2* | 1* | U/c | |
| 12 | Allied Health Professions and Studies | 10 | 20 | 35 | 35 | 0 |
| 38 | Law | 5 | 30 | 45 | 20 | 0 |
| 40 | Social Work and Social Policy & Administration | 0 | 35 | 40 | 25 | 0 |
| 41 | Sociology | 10 | 30 | 35 | 20 | 5 |
| 44 | Psychology | 0 | 20 | 65 | 15 | 0 |
| 45 | Education | 5 | 20 | 30 | 30 | 15 |
| 63 | Art and Design | 10 | 30 | 45 | 15 | 0 |
| 65 | Drama, Dance and Performing Arts | 5 | 30 | 55 | 10 | 0 |
| 66 | Communication, Cultural and Media Studies | 20 | 60 | 15 | 5 | 0 |
These results show a strong performance from the University. Some 78% of our research activity can be said to be "of international standing" (that is, rated at 2* or above by the RAE) while 7% is "world leading" (4*). While quality profiles had been designed by HEFCE in part to prevent the ranking of institutions on a single scale, various ways were found to turn the quality profile into a single score. In the Times Higher Education's ranking, UEL moved up 28 places to joint 68th; according to the Guardian, an upward move of 15 places to 63rd. This makes UEL the top modern university in London and in the top six nationally for research based on RAE 2008, excluding specialist institutions. Click here for UEL's RAE 2008 press release .
- The Guardian's "Rankings for UK universities in the Research Assessment Exercise 2008" can be downloaded here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2008/dec/18/rae-2008-results-uk-universities
- The Times Higher Education's "Table of Excellence" ranking can be downloaded here: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/Journals/THE/THE/18_December_2008/attachments/RAE_2008_THE_RESULTS.pdf
- The RAE 2008 submissions were published by HEFCE in spring 2009 and are available to search on the RAE 2008 website, where formal publications (e.g., guidance on working methods and HEFCE reports on the process) can also be found. The RAE 2008 website also carries information relating to the previous RAE exercises in 2001, 1996, and 1992.
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29 January 2013 UEL’s Code of Practice on the Preparation of Submissions and Selection of Staff for REF 2014 is available here
