The REF results are out and geography departments across the UK are recognised for their world-leading research.
The results of the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), announced on 18 December 2014 demonstrate the world-leading quality of geographical research conducted in UK universities. For the first time in an exercise of this kind, through its assessment of ‘impact’ the REF also highlights the wide-ranging and significant benefits that UK geographical research brings to the economy and society.
The REF provides a robust and thorough assessment of the quality of universities’ research in all disciplines. The research of academic staff from UK universities was peer-reviewed by a series of panels comprising UK and international experts, and external users of research. The panels judged 71 per cent of the submitted geography work to be ‘world-leading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*).
The quality of research was found to have improved significantly since the last exercise in 2008, confirming other independent evidence of the UK’s world-leading position and enhanced performance.
The Society’s Director, Dr Rita Gardner, said: “Geography has been recognised in successive years as being an outstanding discipline. The REF results show the world-leading quality of research in departments across the UK. This follows on from the International Benchmarking Review of Human Geography in 2013 which concluded that UK human geography research is ranked first in the world.”