We invite you to consider registering for one of the workshops and to circulate this opportunity with colleagues and networks.
The closing date for expressions of interest is Wednesday 8 May 2024.
What are the workshops?
We are running 14 online workshops in May-October 2024 to co-develop indicators on people, culture and environment. These are divided into three phases, allowing for reflection and iteration.
Phase 1: An initial series of four scoping workshops will explore what aspects of research culture and environment should be evaluated, what the sector wants the indicators to do, the availability and quality of data, and any context-specific considerations.
Phase 2: A series of eight thematic workshops will then probe more deeply into different aspects of PCE, allowing participants to collectively test the reliability and robustness of potential indicators.
Phase 3: Two final review workshops will consider the full draft list of indicators and draft questionnaire, probing these for unintended consequences, gaming, discriminatory efforts, and comments on the cost and feasibility of data collection.
The workshops will complement a survey on REF PCE that will be open from Monday 24 June – Friday 13 September 2024.
Who can participate?
The workshops are open to anyone with an interest in the REF, research assessment, and research culture in higher education institutions. This includes academics and researchers at all career stages, as well as research-enabling staff (e.g. technicians, librarians, research managers), senior leaders, and professionals across higher education and beyond.
To ensure that as many perspectives as possible can be heard, we anticipate limiting individual participation to one workshop.
What will participation involve?
Each workshop will last three hours, will be held online, and involve up to 40 participants. The workshops will include short presentations on REF PCE and what ‘fair’ indicators look like, as well as group discussions in facilitated breakout rooms. A Mural board (online whiteboard) and Menti online polling will be used to support participation. Workshops may be recorded for notetaking purposes and all contributions will be anonymised in subsequent reports.
Who will run the workshops?
The workshops will be co-facilitated by Vitae in partnership with Technopolis UK, the Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA), the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN), the Future Leaders Fellows Development Network (FLFDN), the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks (NADSN), the Black Female Academics Network (BFAN), and the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE).
The workshops are part of the REF PCE indicators project commissioned by Research England on behalf of the UK’s four higher education funding bodies.
How can I find out more?
Further information about the workshops and a registration form can be found on the Vitae website.
Further information about the development of REF and REF PCE can be found on the REF 2029 website.
