UKRIO’s statement on the decision to pause the development of REF 2029
Recognising Culture as a Cornerstone of Excellent Research
UKRIO’s statement on the decision to pause the development of REF 2029
On 5 September 2025, UK Science Minister Patrick Vallance announced a three-month pause on work for the next Research Excellence Framework (REF) to enable reflection on how the framework can best assess research excellence and avoid unnecessary bureaucracy. His announcement followed earlier reports that the weighting given to People, Culture, and Environment (PCE) may be reduced.
UKRIO recognises the value of this pause and supports efforts to ensure the REF is rigorous, as well as responsive to the needs of the research community.
The importance of PCE
If not carefully defined, the People, Culture and Environment (PCE) element risks becoming an overly complex, compliance-driven exercise. However, in reducing bureaucracy we should not undermine the broader objective of assessing research excellence.
There is a wealth of evidence – including findings from Enablers and Inhibitors of Research Integrity, a study commissioned by UKRI and jointly undertaken by UKRIO, the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN), and the University of Sussex Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) – that demonstrates a strong link between research integrity, research culture, and research excellence.
If the Government’s growth agenda seeks to reduce research waste, improve quality, and generate robust and impactful outputs, then it is essential to recognise and support the conditions that make these outcomes possible.
Sector-wide levers
At present, the REF remains one of the few sector-wide levers capable of encouraging organisations to adopt practices that improve research outcomes. Weakening the People, Culture and Environment (PCE) element could risk sending the message that research culture is unimportant, slowing progress on initiatives already underway, and limiting further scrutiny of well-documented, systemic issues in our research system.
In this context, we welcome Research England’s announcement that it will undertake a new work programme during the pause – and particularly the commitment to explore the introduction of a baseline standard of performance in research culture as a condition of funding. This approach rightly acknowledges the essential role that research culture and integrity play in underpinning high-quality research, and we look forward to its development.
UKRIO’s role
As an independent charity with long-standing expertise in research integrity, UKRIO welcomes the opportunity to contribute to Research England’s programme of work and the broader discussion of the future of the REF. We remain committed to a research system where integrity and excellence go hand in hand, and where culture is recognised as fundamental to success.
– Stephanie Neave, Chief Executive Officer, UKRIO
Media enquiries:
Jasper Scott
Communications and Engagement Manager,
UK Research Integrity Office
jasper.scott@ukrio.org