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Where now for the REF?

The Research Excellence Framework has been postponed for three months ‘to take stock and ensure alignment with the UK government’s priorities and vision for higher education’. But how radical should the changes be? Should there be any at all? Is it time to start again? We present five very different views

26 September

Hopes were high that the end of the far-right Law and Justice Party’s eight years in power would herald a new dawn, after needed reforms to research assessment were undermined by politicisation. But, two years in, scholars are getting restless. Emily Dixon reports

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The retirement of arguably the UK’s most politically adept university leader leaves big boots to fill. The Glasgow principal talks to Jack Grove about 40 years of sectoral evolution, his thoughts on Scottish university funding and his concerns about the now-paused changes to the 2029 REF

15 September
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    Since 2005, the THE Awards have provided a moment to pause, reflect and celebrate the extraordinary achievements of individuals and teams in UK universities. Each year, hundreds of institutions enter categories covering all aspects of university activity, and over 1,200 people gather to celebrate the winners’ achievements at a glittering ceremony – the biggest party in the UK higher education calendar. In shining a spotlight on some of the very best success stories, we hope their work can be rolled out and scaled up so that others can benefit from the innovation, creativity and ingenuity on display.

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