Research Assessment Exercise bites the dust

In the UK's budget statement, the Chancellor announced that the RAE, which has had a huge influence on research strategy across the UK is to be scrapped (1) following the final review in 2008, replacing it with a series of metrics based on publication rates, etc. Indeed, the option of avoiding the 2008 exercise altogether has been voiced provided a suitable alternative framework can be put in place. The RAE has long been criticised by many within and beyond the UK for the serious distorting effect it has had on career planning, strategy forrmation and resource allocation, not to mention the tremendous administrative burden.


(1) http://education.guardian.co.uk/RAE/story/0,,1737082,00.html