Million Plus

Following the publication of the results of the Research Excellence Framework 2014 across UK institutions today (December 17), the university think-tank million+ has responded. Funding allocation is set to be revealed in spring 2015.

Professor Michael Gunn,  Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University and Chair of million+ said:

“The results of the REF demonstrate that excellent research is taking place across the country in all areas of research in all universities with the proportion of research judged at  4 and 3 star level increasing significantly since the last exercise. These results confirm that research excellence is found in all universities and not just in a small number of institutions.

“However, in the last 5 years, government priorities and policies have resulted in the funding councils redefining excellence which has led to the hyper-concentration of taxpayer-funded investment in fewer universities. Ministers and the funding councils need to deliver a more balanced research funding formula that invests in all universities and provides the foundations for a broader research base that will benefit all parts of the country. We would agree with the view of Dr Vince Cable, Secretary of State for BIS, who has called for the contribution of all universities to research and innovation to be recognised by the funding councils.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors
1. For further information or to arrange an interview, contact Rochelle Owusu-Antwi, Press and Communications Officer, million+ on 020 7717 1658 / 07527 336 795 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk
2. million+ is a leading university think-tank. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk.
3. Further statistics on the Research Excellence Framework can be found here.
4. Three-quarters of universities had at least 10 per cent of their work graded as world-leading (4*). The top quarter had at least 30 per cent graded as world leading (4*).
5. Three-quarters of universities had at least 49 per cent of their work graded as internationally excellent (3*) or above. The top quarter had at least 79 per cent graded as internationally excellent (3*) or above.