I really do wonder what will happen to REF 2029. The worse the situation gets without any real state intervention the more REF will just be ignored by the bulk of universities. Bureaucrats and managers gaming for REF 2029 feels like fiddling while Rome burns.

GOgsoh31.bsky.socialSep 30, 2024 8:02am

It's quite interesting in academia at the moment, from an anthropological point of view. Three elements I note: (1) some ppl developing their side hussles as income; (2) colleagues trying to work out where is safe to jump to; (3) big junking of research given the losses it makes.

If it goes ahead, esp in its current form, REF29 will massively concentrate resources among the survivors and depts that still have critical mass. So it will very much be a 'winner takes all' picture.

yep, given the pulling of research support (travel etc) that is happening even at RGs I think there's going to be considerably less enthusiasm than usual