RAE webwise in 2001

Peter Wardley (Letters, THES, June 2) suggests that the transparency of the research assessment exercise would be improved by publication of institutions' submissions on the internet. This is already in train for 2001.

Following completion of the assessment phase, the funding bodies will publish on the internet those parts of submissions that contain factual data and textual information about research activity.

This will include the names of staff returned as research active and listings of their output. Personal and contractual details, and details of the future research plans of institutions, will be removed. The submissions will be published on the internet in early 2002.

Transparency has been improved overall for 2001. Panel criteria and working methods statements have been developed in a fuller form than in 1996 and published in advance, with an explicit commitment that they are binding on panels. At the end of the exercise each institution will get a written statement of the reasons behind the grades.

John Rogers. Manager, RAE 2001.