Research Assessment Exercise 2008

Professor Noel Lloyd, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, has welcomed the results of the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008, describing them as an excellent outcome for the University.

Speaking after their publication on Thursday 18 December, Professor Lloyd said: “I am very pleased with the results that Aberystwyth has achieved and warmly congratulate academic staff on their achievements. The hard work involved in the preparation of submissions has borne fruit with the University showing a significant improvement in its position UK wide, climbing 15 places in the Times Higher Education league table. The outstanding success of several of our departments confirms the high quality and impact of their research.”

RAE2008 was coordinated by the four higher education funding bodies in the UK covering Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The results are used to determine the grants for research that they allocate to each higher education institution.

For RAE2008 each submission of research received a Quality Profile indicating the percentage of activity judged to be at each of one of five quality levels, in terms of originality, significance and rigour: 4* (World-leading), 3* (Internationally excellent), 2* (Internationally recognised), 1* (Nationally recognised) or Unclassified.

The results show that 85% of research activity submitted by Aberystwyth University is of an international standard, with world leading research identified in 15 of the 16 subject areas submitted.

These mean that Aberystwyth University is now second only to Cardiff University in Wales for quality of research according to two leading publications, the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) and Research Fortnight.

The Research Fortnight RAE2008 Quality Index of University Research places Aberystwyth 41st out of 119 in the UK, and according to the THES Aberystwyth University has climbed 15 places to 45th out of a total of 132 Universities.

The findings also reveal that 48% of research activity at Aberystwyth University is rated as world leading or internationally excellent and 97.4% of researchers work in disciplines where world leading research is undertaken.

Five academic departments (1 in 3 of submissions) had over 60% of their research activity rated 4* or 3*.

The Department of International Politics has continued on from its outstanding result in 2001 when it secured the highest grade possible, 5*. With 40% of its research rated as ‘world-leading', the Department is 3rd in the THES RAE Subject Ratings for Politics and International studies, ahead of Oxford and the London School of Economics. It is also the second highest performing social science department in the whole of Wales.

With 70% of research submitted being world leading or internationally excellent the Department of Computer Science is Wales' leading department in Computer Science and Informatics. The THES RAE Subject Ratings place it joint 16th in the UK out of 81.

65% of the research submitted by the Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences (IGES) is world leading or internationally excellent. According to the THES RAE Subject Ratings IGES is joint 11th in the UK out of 49.

Following its 5* performance in the 2001 RAE, and with 65% of research submitted being world-leading or internationally excellent in RAE2008, the Department of Welsh has retained its place amongst the top four in the UK.

A ‘5’ in the 2001 RAE established the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies as one of the leading departments of its kind in the UK. With 30% of research submitted being world leading and 30% being internationally excellent, the Department has underlined it reputation and, according to Research Fortnight’s ‘Research Power’ league table, is ranked 2nd in the UK.

Other highlights
The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences is joint 6th out of 30 in the UK. 95% of research submitted is rated as being recognised internationally with 45% being world leading or internationally excellent.

The Department of Information Studies is 11th out of 21 in the UK. 85% of the research submitted is rated as being recognised internationally with 50% being world leading or internationally excellent.

Submitted under the European Studies unit of assessment, the Department of European Languages is joint 8th out of 27 in the UK. 80% of the research submitted is rated as being recognised internationally with 20% being world leading.

80% of research submitted by the Department of History and Welsh History is rated as being recognised internationally with 45% being world leading or internationally excellent.

95% of research submitted by the Department of English is rated as being recognised internationally with 40% being world leading or internationally excellent.

The Institute of Mathematics and Physics submitted research under two units of assessment, Physics and Pure Mathematics. 85% of research in Pure Mathematics is rated as being recognised internationally with 40% being world-leading or internationally excellent. 70% of Physics research submitted is rated as being recognised internationally.

65% of research submitted by the Department of Law is rated as being recognised internationally with 35% being world-leading or internationally excellent.

Research from The School of Art was submitted under the History of Art, Architecture and Design unit of assessment. 65% of the work is rated as being recognised internationally with 25% being world-leading or internationally excellent.

60% of research submitted by the School of Management and Business is rated as being recognised internationally with 25% being of internationally excellent.

The Department of Sports and Exercise Science which was returned for the first time since its formation in 2001 performed very well with 65% o research submitted rated as being recognised internationally with 15% being of international excellence.

The expertise of six members of staff at Aberystwyth University was recognised by their selection on to RAE2008 subject panels. They were Professor Ross King (Computer Science and Informatics), Professor David Ellis (Library and Information Management), Professor Ken Booth (Politics and International Studies), Professor Tim Woods (American Studies and Anglophone Area Studies), Professor Aled Jones (History), and Professor Martin Barker (Communication, Cultural and Media Studies).