REF Steering Group

Terms of Reference

The REF Steering Group has responsibility and accountability to the University Management Board for the delivery of an optimal, accurate and timely REF 2029 submission.

The Group will provide management and oversight of the preparation of Imperial’s REF submissions including decisions on issues of strategic importance. To include the provision of:

• Advice on the configuration of units of assessment (UoAs) (including which UoAs to make submissions to, which staff and research groups should be presented in each submission, etc.).
• Input to strategic choices which will inform Imperial’s submission (including guidance to inform submission decisions about research outputs for Contributions to Knowledge and Understanding (CKU) sections). 
• Guidance to inform the preparation of the institution-level Strategy, People and Research Environment (SPRE) statement and disciplinary-level narrative statements (including research strategy, enabling impact, supporting collaboration, structures to support interdisciplinary research, and open research).
• Guidance to inform the preparation of Engagement and Impact (E&I) sections in the REF submission, including on cross-departmental/multidisciplinary case studies. 
• Oversee development and review of the University’s Code of Practice and ensure REF-related decisions are undertaken in line with this.
• Input to, and overview of, external consultations related to REF.
• Review and sign-off of Imperial’s REF 2029 submissions. 

The quorum for the REF 2029 Steering Group is half of the members with a minimum of two Faculty REF Leads and the Chair in attendance.  

The REF Steering Group meets every other month. More frequent meetings are likely to be scheduled as the REF deadline draws nearer.