Research Assessment Exercise 2008
Durham University Business School research is ranked 14th in the UK and 24th in Europe in the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2011.
Durham University Business School at Durham University participated in RAE08 and received detailed feedback in January 2009.
90% of all of the research submitted by staff across Durham University was assessed as being at least of International Quality (2* and above) in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
Of the research assessed from Durham University Business School, 95% is of International Quality and above. This positions the School 19th in a total of 90 schools within the business and management sector (based on the Grade Point Average score).
The RAE sub-panel drew particular attention to our arrangements for research leave and use of research income, which they considered to be "world-leading".
They also consider the final employment destinations of Doctoral candidates and ESRC recognition of our doctoral programmes to be particular strengths.
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 Rob Dixon, Dean of Durham University Business School adds: "The result represents a marked improvement in research performance over RAE2001 and reflects the School's sustained efforts to build upon its reputation as a premier research-led business school with a vibrant research culture.
"At a time when the business world is facing an increasingly uncertain future, the need for high quality business and management research has never been greater. These results demonstrate that Durham University Business School is very well equipped to play a leading role in meeting this need."
What does Durham's RAE result really mean for prospective students?
With 90% of the University'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 our research seminar series and guest speaker events.
If you are thinking of coming to Durham for postgraduate 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.
Durham Business School's RAE result sits alongside other recent rankings:
- Financial Times European Business Schools rankings: 11th in the UK and 28th in Europe
- Financial Times 2009 Top 100 Full-time Global MBA Programmes: 80th in the world
