What the REF are we expecting this Autumn?!

REF rules are (probably) coming this autumn — but what else is heading the sector's way? James, Gemma and Simon (plus one uninvited chicken) map out the season ahead: the budget, UKRI funding fallout, open data policy, devolution, and the very real possibility a Russell Group university could collapse. They dig into the Hidden REF competition's record-breaking 222 entries, report back from an international research-evaluation conference in Antwerp, and tackle the sector's favourite rumour: is the REF finally getting cancelled? (Spoiler: probably not.) Sharp, funny, and essential listening for anyone navigating UK research policy.Our hosts are all members of the Hidden REF committee based at the universities of Southampton and Bristol: Gemma Derrick - a self-confessed REF junkie - James Baker, and Simon Hettrick. Our producer is Ben Thomas.Find out more about the HiddenREF campaign at Hidden-REF.org'What the REF' is made possible by the Embedding Trust in Evaluation (E-TIE) research grant from Research England.Want to get in touch? Email: WTreF@hidden-ref.orgWTreF is co-produced by Simon Hettrick, Gemma Derrick, James Baker and Ben Thomas. Video and Sound production by Ben Thomas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.