Huddersfield Business School Celebrates REF2021 Success

Along with the University of Huddersfield as a whole, Huddersfield Business School is celebrating its success in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021). The University has risen from 92^nd in 2008 to 50^th (out of 157 institutions) in 2021. This places the University in the top third of institutions in terms of research power in the UK.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. It assesses world-class research, ensuring excellent teaching and real-world impact on society. Indeed, three quarters of all University of Huddersfield research is world-leading and internationally excellent for research impact.

 

Huddersfield Business School Gains

There were more than 4.5 times more Huddersfield Business School academic staff submitted to REF2021 compared with REF2014. In terms of the research power measure, the School has risen to 37 out of 108 for Business and Management. Furthermore, 56.5% of outputs (publications) are rated at 3* and 4* level compared to 28.4% last time. The Business School increased the number of impact case studies submissions, with 78.6% rated 3* and 4* level. This is the first time the School has submitted Law outputs to a REF, which has resulted in a GPA of 2.50 and 50% of publications rated at 3* and 4* level, a very creditable outcome.

 

“I am delighted with our REF2021 results. We know that our research support at Huddersfield Business School is excellent, and these results bear out that we are becoming a business school recognised for excellence in research.”

Professor Jill Johnes, Dean of Huddersfield Business School

 

The REF is undertaken by the four UK higher education funding bodies: Research England, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), and the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland (DfE).

The funding bodies aim to secure the continuation of a world-class, dynamic and responsive research base across the full academic spectrum within UK higher education.

The University of Huddersfield will continue to build on this success. Its increase in research power and its breadth of academic staff in the upper decile for the percentage of staff with PhDs, which places it in the top five universities in England for PhD qualified staff.  This forms a strong position for the next Research Excellence Framework, where plans are already being made.

You can read more about the University of Huddersfield’s REF2021 outcome here.