IT’S OFFICIAL! RESEARCH BY OUR UNIVERSITIES IS WORLD-LEADING
Keele and Staffs uni ranked 57th and 86th
A RECORD amount of academic research carried out in North Staffordshire is now classed as worldleading.
In recent years, Keele University experts have discovered everything from new planets to major breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer and other illnesses.
Now Staffordshire University is hot on Keele’s heels after climbing 22 places in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) league tables. Areas of particular strength at Staffordshire include art and design, where 91 per cent of research has been judged to be either ‘worldleading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*).
Keele has scored particularly well in medicine and other health-related fields, along with English, physics and bioengineering. Overall, Keele has retained its rank of 57th out of 157 universities in the UK, based on a league table of REF data compiled by Times Higher Education. Around 80 per cent of its research is now classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
At Staffordshire, which has jumped to 86th place, 68 per cent of research submitted for the REF achieved a 4* or 3*. This reflects a huge improvement on seven years ago, when 37 per cent of submissions were in the top two categories. Other research fields at the university include health, engineering, archaeology, social work and social policy, business and management, and communication and cultural studies.
Professor Martin Jones, above, vicechancellor of Staffordshire University, said: “Research impact is incredibly important for Staffordshire University as we look to make a positive difference in our region and the wider world and improve the quality of life for people living in our communities.
“Much of our research is peoplecentred and focused on finding solutions to societal problems and we’re proud that this is the case. Our results in art and design and engineering reflect both our heritage and our continuing commitment to the creative industries.”
The latest REF was carried out in 2021, with the findings published yesterday. The last mammoth assessment was back in 2014. But a rule change this time round has meant all staff with a ‘significant responsibility’ for research have had to be entered. That’s led to more than 76,000 academics nationwide submitting at least one piece of research – up from 52,000 in 2014.
Their work was assessed by independent expert panels. Now the results will help guide how around £2 billion of annual Government research funding is divvied up across the UK.
Staffordshire University entered 109 staff and 244 pieces of research. This included books or book chapters, designs, exhibitions, journal articles and performances.
At Keele, 25 per cent more staff were entered compared with 2014. It marked a 75 per cent increase in the volume of world-leading research across the university.
Professor Trevor Mcmillan, vicechancellor of Keele University, said: “Keele researchers work tirelessly to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from food security, healthcare and environmental sustainability, to helping businesses innovate and making our communities healthier and safer. These results today are a tribute to their hard work and dedication, and the impact that their research is having on society.”
Nationally, there has been a small decline in the proportion of world-class research within the so-called ‘golden triangle’ – Oxford, Cambridge and London universities. It shows a shift towards smaller institutions in other parts of the country.