UK-wide assessment of the quality of research at universities has found that 83% of research at universities in Wales is world-leading or internationally excellent.
The Research Excellence Framework 2021 found:
- 83% of Welsh research assessed as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*);
- 37% of Welsh research 4* – world-leading, and the highest rating;
- 89% of Welsh research has a world-leading or internationally excellent impact beyond academia.
Across the UK, 185,000 research outputs were submitted by 157 universities for assessment by the REF’s expert panels.
The REF was undertaken by the four higher education funding bodies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The results will be used by those four to allocate research funding to universities – around £2 billion per year overall from 2022-23.
In Wales the panels also concluded that the research environment in 85% of the submissions was world-leading or internationally excellent.
The outcomes for Wales showed particularly strong performances in a range of subjects including allied health professions, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience, earth systems and environment sciences; and English language and literature.
Rob Humphreys, chairman of Higher Education Funding Council Wales, said: “These REF outcomes show that research in Wales continues to hold its own within the UK and internationally.
“That more than 80% of research at our universities is judged to be of the highest quality on the world stage is recognition of the talent and commitment in departments across the nation.
“This is a significant set of outcomes for our universities. We now see a greater proportion of research in the highest 4* category and the overall picture is extremely positive.
“The exercise also recognised that the environments within which the research was carried out was supportive. Welsh universities should be held in esteem as good places to work as well as to study.
“Wales continues to have universities that produce highly impactful research that benefits wider society.”
Dr David Blaney, chief executive of HEFCW, said the outcomes of REF 2021 showed that universities are delivering all around Wales.
He said: “We recognise the importance of our core research funding to support and sustain research at higher education
providers and how it helps institutions to compete and win additional funding from elsewhere in the UK and further afield.
“The annual allocation of our core research funding is based on the results of the REF.
“That our financial contribution at the very least continues at current levels and has the prospect of increasing is crucial so that our universities are able to sustain and further develop the quality, impact and reputation of their research.
“We know from the Welsh Government’s own research that universities play a crucial role in generating growth and prosperity – both economic and social – and developing skilled and well-educated graduates.
“They are important locally and renowned globally, and are well placed to help us meet future challenges, as the outcomes show.”
Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething said: “I would like to congratulate researchers at Welsh universities for the fantastic results in the latest Research Excellence Framework. There has been a significant increase in the number of researchers achieving the highest grades, with impressive improvements in the impact of this work.”
