UCU has published a report based on around 7000 responses to a survey carried out in the summer. Responses were received from staff across academic grades and in 153 Higher Education institutions (HEIs), demonstrating the strength of feeling on the REF among academic staff in the UK.
Responses to the survey reflected long standing concerns within UCU as regards the detrimental impact of the REF on the working conditions and career development of academic staff as well as on the sector as a whole. For the large majority of respondents, delivery of the necessary REF outputs was not possible without working excessive hours.
A large majority viewed the REF as creating unreasonable expectations as regards the research outputs of academic researchers, yet many institutions are clearly linking REF performance to wider performance criteria and possible career detriment.