C3 Centre and Staffordshire University shows substantial improvement in REF 2021

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Staffs Uni has welcomed the results of REF 2021 which has recognised more of its research as “internationally excellent” and “world leading”

Our press release can be accessed from https://www.staffs.ac.uk/news/2022/05/staffordshire-university-shows-substantial-improvement-in-ref-2021

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

Overall, 68% of Staffordshire University’s research was judged 3* “internationally excellent” and 4* “world leading”, up from 37% in 2014 when the last REF results were announced. In addition, 87% of the University’s research impact has been rated as “very considerable” or “outstanding”, again the two highest categories. This has resulted in a rise of 22 places in the Times Higher League Table to =86.

C3 Centre Communities

Key Units of assessments for the C3 Centre were Art and Design (UoA 32) and Communications and Cultural Studies (UoA34).

The University rated most highly for Art and Design where 91% of its research was recognised as 4* and 3* and 100% of research impact was judged to be “very considerable” or “outstanding”.

Art and Design:

  • 100% of research impact is recognised as “very considerable” or “outstanding”
  • 91% of research is rated “internationally excellent” or “world leading”

In this area, we made substantial improvements compared to REF 2014

  • 4* outputs increased from 0.0% to 47.1%
  • 3* outputs increased from 15.0% to 41.1%
  • 4* impact increased from 0.0% to 50.0%

The overall GPA for the unit increased from 1.88 to 3.32 (out of 4.0).

Communication and Cultural studies:

  • 100% of research impact is recognised as “very considerable” or “outstanding”

In this area, we made substantial improvements compared to REF 2014

  • 4* outputs increased from 7.3% to 13.5%
  • 3* outputs increased from 20.0% to 32.4%
  • 4* impact increased from 0.0% to 50.0%
  • 3* impact increased from 20.0% to 50.0%

The overall GPA for the unit increased from 1.86 to 2.74 (out of 4.0).

Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary

But we also work with many research communities across the university, and the C3 Centre membership spreads across different assessment units, each one of these having made improvements in research impacts and outputs:

Archaeology

  • 100% of research impact is recognised as “very considerable” or “outstanding”

Business and management:

  • 100% of research impact is recognised as “very considerable” or “outstanding”
  • 71% of research overall is “internationally excellent” or “world leading”

Social Work Social Policy:

  • 64% of research outputs are rated “internationally excellent” or “world leading”

Engineering:

  • 75% of research impact is recognised as “very considerable” or “outstanding”       
  • 87% of research outputs are rated “internationally excellent” or “world leading”

Collaboration and Co-Creation

We have always worked in partnership with many communities locally, regionally and globally.

Thank You to all our stakeholders, partners & collaborators who have been part of our collective journey. Together we are shaping a more creative future.

Two of our impact case studies by Associate Professor Anna Francis and Associate Professor Nic Gratton demonstrate how research, collaboration and communities can work together.