Bristol University confirmed as a world leader in research
Bristol University confirmed as a world leader in research
[Posted on 07 January 2009]
Bristol is among the UK's top research universities, according to a rigorous exercise to assess the quality of research at every university. The exercise will decide how more than £1.5 billion in research funding will be allocated each year from 2009-10.Over sixty-one per cent of research work assessed in 48 research fields at Bristol has been awarded either the top 4* rating, defined as 'world leading', or the 3* rating, classed as 'internationally excellent'.
Epidemiology and public health, mathematics, computer science, geography, economics, philosphy and drama are among the research areas in which the University has achieved particular distinction. Drama at Bristol has emerged as number one for research in the UK.
Bristol's faculties of Science and Engineering have performed exceptionally well, but there are areas of outstanding research performance across all six faculties.
Taking into account the 2* rating - defined as 'recognised internationally' - as well as the 4* and 3* ones, nearly 93 per cent of research at Bristol has been deemed to be of international standard.
Over 90 per cent of eligible staff at Bristol were included in the University's Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) submission - thought to be one of the highest percentages in the sector.
Professor Eric Thomas, Bristol University's Vice-Chancellor said: "These results confirm that Bristol is producing an exceptional volume of truly outstanding research. Our established areas of excellence have continued to perform at the highest levels, and new areas are establishing themselves as world leading or internationally excellent.
"Research conducted here is making a real difference not only to the sum of human knowledge but also to the overall well-being of mankind. We'll have to wait until the spring to find out how much HEFCE will give us each year to help us maintain and extend such vital work."
Professor Eric Thomas cited recent examples of research at the University that is having or is set to have a positive impact, from work on increasing crop yields to preventing blocked arteries, and from welfare reform to human tissue engineering.
The RAE is an independent assessment of the quality of research in UK universities, carried out on behalf of the higher education funding bodies. Panels of experts produce a quality profile for each area of research within a university. The profile determines how much quality-related funding each research area will receive.
The last RAE was in 2001 and led to Bristol University receiving more than £40 million a year in quality-related research funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The University will not know until March 2009 how much it will get as a result of RAE 2008.
RAE's significance goes beyond money: the results also give potential students and staff an insight into the quality of UK universities and help guide investment decisions by industry, charities and other organisations that sponsor research.
For further information please contact:
Sadia Rooney
Research and Enterprise Development, University of Bristol
Tel: +44 (0)117 928 8676, Email:sadia.rooney@bristol.ac.uk
www.bristol.ac.uk/red