While research assessments are conducted on a UK wide basis, research policy is devolved. Policy is formed by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW). The quality of research output generated by Welsh universities has previously been assessed by the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).
The RAE in 2008 ranked universities by their research performance and drives funding allocations to universities in Wales and the rest of the UK. There are numerous examples of internationally-leading excellence in Wales, and some areas of outstanding strength. The RAE 2008 found that 14% of research in Welsh universities is of a world class standard while a further 35% is of an international standard. There were particularly strong performances by the Welsh sector in the following areas:
- Allied Health Professions
- Computer Science and Informatics
- Civil Engineering
- Psychology
- Celtic Studies
There were also a number of areas in which individual institutions performed strongly, attaining proportions of the higher quality ratings which significantly exceeded the UK average. These areas included:
- Accounting and Finance
- Business and Management
- Communications, Cultural and Media Studies
- Psychiatry and Neuroscience
- Sociology
- Politics and International Studies
- Town and Country Planning
Substantial measures to improve scale and scope and achieve critical mass have taken place in recent years, through the creation of research collaborations, often funded through HEFCW. Wales continues to work to close the gap with its competitors in research performance. More needs to be done to achieve critical mass and raise levels of investment in research.
HEW believes better performance in attracting postgraduate researchers to Wales would have significant benefits for Wales, including nurturing the future academic community and supporting innovation. Wales awards 4% of UK postgraduate research qualifications, compared to 5.5% of first degree qualifications. Evidence demonstrates that those educated to doctoral level are more likely to possess the skills and aptitudes that will allow them to recognise and exploit business opportunities successfully and become entrepreneurs.
Across the RAE as a whole the overall percentages of research activity at each quality level for the UK and its constituent countries were:
| |
Wales |
England |
Scotland |
N Ireland |
UK |
|
| 4* |
14% |
18% |
15% |
14% |
17% |
|
| 3* |
35% |
37% |
37% |
36% |
37% |
|
| 2* |
36% |
32% |
34% |
37% |
33% |
|
| 1* |
13% |
11% |
12% |
11% |
11% |
|
| u/c |
2% |
2% |
2% |
1% |
2% |
|
Source: HEFCW - These average quality profiles may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
This performance is similar to the RAE 2001, when comparisons between countries were made on the basis of overall weighted average scores. It can therefore be concluded that Wales broadly maintained its position relative to the rest of the UK.