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REF 2014
Data go digital

The 1,911 submissions made to the 2014 research excellence framework have been published on the . The submissions, from 154 universities, include 191,150 research outputs and 6,975 impact case studies. A second, searchable database of case studies will be made available in the spring. The four UK funding bodies are currently running a number of projects to , which will report in the next few months.

Comparing degree standards
Trio to ¡®re-test assumptions¡¯

Three of the UK¡¯s funding bodies want to ¡°re-test assumptions¡± about the importance of comparability of standards across the sector¡¯s institutions. The question of whether there is still a role for external examining to provide judgements on standards is also posed in a ¡°discussion document¡± that is part of a review of the UK¡¯s quality assessment system. The document ¨C published on 15 January by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Department for Employment and Learning of Northern Ireland ¨C also notes that ¡°the lifting of the student numbers cap in England has caused the Westminster government to worry about the quality of the students¡¯ experience ¨C in part at least an academic quality issue¡±. In October, Hefce cast the future of the Quality Assurance Agency into doubt by announcing that it would invite external bodies to bid for work undertaken by the UK-wide higher education watchdog and setting in motion a review of quality assessment.

National Student Survey
Volte-face on teachers¡¯ feedback

A government agency has confirmed that it will now fund teacher training students¡¯ participation in the 2015 National Student Survey despite having previously announced that it no longer wished to do so. The decision follows the Higher Education Funding Council for England¡¯s announcement that it would take the ¡°exceptional¡± step to ¡°underwrite the inclusion of ITT students in the NSS 2015¡±. The latest volte-face was revealed by David Laws, the schools minister, on 13 January in a written response to a parliamentary question from Kevin Brennan, a Labour MP, who asked what were the reasons for the National College for Teaching and Leadership ¨C the Department for Education agency that funds teacher training ¨C withdrawing its funding of teacher training students in the NSS. ¡°[The] NCTL has agreed to continue funding for a further year, to ensure time for a smooth transition to alternative arrangements, should the sector wish to continue receiving feedback through the National Student Survey,¡± Mr Laws responded. Hefce said that were there to be another change of heart, its commitment to funding ITT students¡¯ participation would still stand.

Scottish governance
UCU warning on ¡®vetting¡¯ chairs

Candidates hoping to chair Scottish university governing bodies should not have to be ¡°vetted¡±, a union says. The Scottish government¡¯s proposed higher education governance bill would require elections to be held for the posts, but a indicated that polls would be preceded by an interview and shortlisting process. In , the University and College Union says that this would put too much power in the hands of those doing the shortlisting, warning that it would be wrong if only a single candidate was allowed to go forward for what would be in essence an affirmative ballot. The union says that fully open elections would better reflect the ¡°traditional nature of the Scottish university system¡±.

A story last week that asked whether staff had been the victims of ¡°hierarchical microaggression¡± in their university provoked a flurry of responses on Twitter. ¡°I think ¡®hierarchical microagression¡¯ may just be another name for rudeness and social incompetence,¡± was ¡¯s take. said that the article reminded her of one of the reasons she enjoyed working at the London College of Fashion: ¡°As far as I know, this sort of thing just doesn¡¯t happen.¡± Meanwhile wrote that the piece was an ¡°interesting contribution to the perpetual debate on the admin/academic divide¡±.