The Research Excellence Framework(REF): Study On Research Assessment And Its Mode Of Funding In Britain University And Colleges

The result of Research Excellence Framework research assessment,announced by HEFCE,on December 2014,drawn the world’s attention.REF adjusted the Panels and Units of Assessment,criterion,and stuff,due to attaching importance to innovation of research outputs and social effectiveness.This adjustment,especially adding the “Research import” criterion,indicates the research of England aimed at seeking for excellence and innovation,and pays more attention to social effectiveness to develop innovation country.With the reform of research assessment,the allocation of research funding,connected with result of assessment,also adjusted.The research funding based on the result of evaluation continues to use the dual support system,DSS and employ the Formula allocation model according the discipline.That is to say that HEFEC allocate the funding with formula method,according to the result of REF.REF and its funding model boost the development of Higher Education in British,the research innovation ability,and the International competitiveness of research.But,there are also some weaknesses about REF.By the method of literature analysis,content analysis,comparative research method,research systematically the features and effects of REF and its funding model and discuss the enlightenment from REF and its funding model for China.At first,discuss REF’s production process,according to the background of British research evaluation,and then analyze concretely the criterion,methods etc.We found that reducing evaluation units,adding “impact”,and reducing stuff are the features of REF,which reflected the value idea about REF,justice,discipline,excellence and synergy.Secondly,research the funding model,based on the analyzing the development of funding system.We pay attach importance on the Quality-related research funding of Recurrent research funding.We can learn from its Semi-official institution and research funding separated from teaching funding.At last,discuss the effects on REF and its funding model.Put forward the feasible suggestion on China research assessment,according the REF features.It is suggested that the evaluation of research should be introduced into the authority semiofficial institutions,the evaluation criteria diversity,the establishment of Recurrent research funding,the development of key disciplines,and discipline evaluation should pay more attention on discipline classification.