RAE08 & Durham University – in context
The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise or RAE08 aimed to produce quality profiles for each submission of research activity (Unit of Assessment or UoA) made by higher education institutions.
The four higher education funding bodies (HEFCE, HEFCW, DEL and SFC) will use the quality profiles to determine their grant for research to the institutions which they fund with effect from 2009-10. Any HEI in the UK that is eligible to receive research funding from one of these bodies was eligible to participate. The results of the RAE determine how much money the University will be awarded for its general research activities as well as feeding in to league tables.
Durham University is a medium-sized higher-education institution with a renowned, research-led culture and success in RAE08 in terms of both the volume and quality of our research input reflects this commitment to excellence.
Durham University's International Quality
The University submitted a higher number of research active staff than any of our comparator institutions in the 1994 Group.
90% of the research which our staff submitted was assessed as being at least of International Quality (2* and above) in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
This is a higher percentage than many of the larger institutions which form the Russell Group of UK universities.
See an overview of Durham's RAE success
Reaction
Professor Tom McLeish, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at Durham says: "This is an excellent set of results for Durham University reflecting the international breadth and significance of our Departments' research." Professor Robert Edwards, Head of the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences adds: "With 90% of the Research across the entire School being recognised as International Quality, this demonstrates the commitment of our staff to Research and strongly upholds the strong tradition at Durham University for Research led training of the highest order".
What does Durham's RAE result really mean for prospective students?
With 90% of Durham's research assessed as being of International Quality and examples of World-Leading (4*) research excellence in every department, you are guaranteed to study in an academic environment of great quality. More importantly, we invite you to actively participate in our research environment through seminars, conferences, workshops and fieldwork.
If thinking of coming to Durham for post-graduate research at PhD or Masters level you will know that you are entering a research environment second to none, will be receiving the guidance of scholars and researchers at the very front of their field internationally, and be given the chance to participate in your chosen research field at the global level.
