Response to HEFCE consultation on performance indicators - research output PI

24 January 2014

The Russell Group supports the proposal to discontinue the performance indicators for research output.

Research Output performance indicators give only a partial picture of research performance. The most important indicator of research performance are results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF), which measure research quality.

The REF results, alongside the raw HESA data showing the number of PhDs awarded, the total research grants and contracts income and the total academic staff costs per institution present a reasonable picture
of research activity within the UK’s universities. It is unclear what additional value is added by aiming to normalise data through statistical methods to generate the existing PIs showing outputs per inputs.

Please also see our response to the concurrent consultation on the guiding principles and recommendations for the future of performance.

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