The Research Excellence Framework in the United Kingdom: Processes, Consequences, and Incentives to Engage

Governments around the world have introduced various forms of research evaluation and accountability systems. These developments have been widely interpreted as evidence of the incursion of neoliberal discipline and governance into university procedures and management. This article reflects on the example of the U.K. Research Excellence Framework (REF). The article reviews the development and current operation of the REF, particularly in the field of Education; reflects on some of the issues it raises including intended and unintended consequences; and identifies why it has been so insidiously successful in colonizing U.K. academic life. The article is significant for linking critiques of neoliberalism with the lived realities of managing the REF.