Research Assessment Exercise
The RAE Process
The quality of research undertaken in UK universities has been assessed periodically in Research Assessment Exercises (RAE). There have been six RAEs to date, the last took place in 2008. As well as assessing the quality of UK research in universities, the RAEs have been used to inform the distribution of public funds for research by the four UK higher education funding bodies. Submissions were subdivided into subject areas (called 'units of assessment) and in 2008 RAE submissions from universities were assessed by experts in some 70 units of assessment.
For more detail on RAE processes see, for example, the RAE 2008 website.
The Department and the RAE (1992-2008)
In 1992, 1996 and 2001 the then Department of Design and Innovation submitted to the 'Art and Design' Unit of Assessment (UoA) and achieved a ‘5’ rating in each RAE.
In 2008 the Department of Design, Development, Environment and Materials also submitted to Art and Design UoA. Our submission was ranked 1st of all Open University submissions, and 3rd out of 72 Art and Design submissions. 35% of our work was graded at 4* (World Leading), with 45% graded at 3* (Internationally excellent). This confirms our position as one of the top group of design researchers in the UK.
The submission included research outputs, such as publications, statistics on research grants and research studentships, and evidence of our research esteem and standing.
Our major refereed research publications since 2001 are available in the Design and Innovation section of the University's Open Research Online site.
Page Last Updated: 29 April, 2010