REF (Research Excellence Framework)

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a UK-based system that evaluates the quality of research conducted by universities and higher education institutions. It assesses the impact, originality, and academic standards of research outputs, such as publications and projects. The results help determine how funding is allocated to support high-quality research and ensure accountability. Essentially, REF provides a measure of research excellence, influencing reputation and resource distribution within the academic community.