News

Thursday 18 December 2008

Nottingham Trent University celebrates success in RAE

Nottingham Trent University has once again confirmed its reputation as an international research institution according to the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) results released today. The results show that the quality of the University's research is outstanding, with 74% of activity submitted achieving international status and 8% classed as world-leading.

More than 200 Nottingham Trent University staff - a mix of established and early career researchers - took part in the latest RAE, with a total of 16 Units of Assessment (UoA) submitted. These covered a variety of academic disciplines including Biomedical Sciences (Allied Health Professions and Studies); Art and Design; English Language and Literature; and Social Policy.

Each submission was assessed by an independent panel drawn from Higher Education and the wider research community and a 'quality profile' was produced. The profiles were based on a number of factors including the quality of research outputs, the environment and peer esteem, resulting in percentage ratings for 4* (world-leading), 3* (internationally excellent), 2* (internationally recognised), 1* (nationally recognised) or u/c (falls below the national standard).

One of the University's most highly rated UoA's was Communication, Cultural and Media Studies. Research organised through the Institute of Cultural Analysis (ICAn) that focuses on cultural globalisation, contributed to the discipline achieving 25% in the top 4* rating and 45% in the 3* rating.

The University's world-renowned reputation in cancer diagnosis and therapy, which includes the groundbreaking Anthony Nolan Trust Cord Blood Bank and the recently funded van Geest Cancer Research Centre, was also confirmed in the RAE. Ninety per cent of Biomedical Sciences research was judged to be of international quality, with 20% rated world-leading.

A number of new academic disciplines were also submitted for the first time by Nottingham Trent University including General Engineering which achieved a world-leading rating.

The results will determine how the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce), one of the UK's higher education funding bodies, will allocate its research funding from 2009. A new "Research Excellence Framework" (REF) is planned to replace the RAE from 2013.

Professor Neil Gorman, Nottingham Trent University's Vice-Chancellor, said: "To have almost 75% of our research submitted achieving international status is a great achievement, and congratulations must go to all the University staff whose excellence and dedication led to such a strong performance.

"The breadth and depth of our research portfolio highlights how important it is to our culture. Research is an essential activity that underpins our learning and teaching here at the university and we are committed to encouraging it at all levels."

ENDS

Notes for editors:

Press enquiries please contact: Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk; or Dave Rogers, Senior Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8782, or via email: dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk.