REF 2021, which assessed the quality of research in the preceding seven years, found that Canterbury Christ Church University had more than doubled its proportion of world-leading (4*) research and quadrupled its proportion of world-leading (4*) impact since 2014.

The REF exercise provides a robust and thorough assessment of the quality of research in universities in all disciplines, providing accountability for public investment in research and demonstrating the benefits of that investment. It is a process of expert review, carried out by expert panels for each of the 34 subject-based units of assessment (UoAs), under the guidance of four main panels. Expert panels are made up of senior academics, international members, and research users. For each submission, three distinct elements are assessed: the quality of outputs (for example, publications, performances and exhibitions), their impact beyond academia, and the environment that supports research.

REF 2021 found that:

  • The percentage of our world-leading (4*) research has more than doubled since 2014.
  • 61.2 per cent of CCCU’s submitted work was judged to be either world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).
  • At least 15 per cent of research was assessed to be world-leading (4*) in seven out of the 12 UoAs we submitted to, with four UoAs having more than 20 per cent world-leading research and one having more than 40 per cent.
  • The percentage of our impact that has been rated as world-leading (4*) has more than quadrupled since 2014.
  • 84.3 per cent of our impact case studies were rated as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*), compared to 52 per cent in 2014.

The UoAs to which we submitted our work are:

  • 70 per cent of research was assessed as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).
  • Research has shown that arts-based interventions such as singing and dance improve health outcomes and life experiences for those with dementia and respiratory conditions, improving the lives of more than 30,000 patients across the UK.
  • All impact case studies were assessed as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).
  • Research has led to justice support dogs being used to support vulnerable victims of crime in the UK and internationally, and increased the inclusion of athletes with intellectual disabilities in elite sport.
  • Half of the impact case studies were assessed as internationally excellent (3*).
  • The development of pheromone toolkits to monitor some of Europe’s rarest insects has led to habitat identification, rediscovery and characterisation, helping to sustain rare species, essential to ecological systems.
  • Two thirds of impact case studies were assessed as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).
  • Research has led to a new assessment framework for registered firearms dealers and gun owners being developed and adopted by all 43 police forces across England, safeguarding communities and resulting in the closure of multiple criminal enterprises.
  • All impact case studies were assessed as internationally excellent (3*).
  • Research has shaped how the Tate Exchange engages with key ‘hard-to-reach’ demographics and transformed the understanding which young people from marginalised communities have of their opportunities to make effective political change.
  • More than two thirds of research was assessed as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*). All impact case studies were judged to be internationally excellent.
  • Research has led to new curricula in Church of England schools, benefiting 1.3 million young people, and improved the wellbeing and developmental outcomes for babies through enhanced training and professional status for carers.
  • 86 per cent of research and all impact case studies were assessed as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).
  • Research has led to new national guidelines for physical activity before, during and after pregnancy, and supported more than a million schoolchildren to become newly physically active.
  • 84 per cent of research and all outputs were assessed as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).
  • Creative writing research has revealed new insights into the Hillsborough football tragedy, benefitting those directly affected by the disaster and a broader readership, and making a distinctive contribution to football writing and culture.
  • More than two thirds of research was assessed as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*). All impact case studies were judged to be internationally excellent.
  • Research has contributed to processes of reconciliation and conflict resolution in Northern Ireland.
  • Half of the impact case studies were assessed as world-leading (4*).
  • Research has impacted on BBC’s religious programming, influenced approaches to theological education and promoted increased political and social engagement.
  • More than a quarter of research was assessed as world-leading (4*).
  • Research has resulted in the co-creation of new music and sound design by offering performers and composers ways of applying DJ/club culture technology to contemporary music and sound design.
  • More than a quarter of research was assessed as world-leading (4*). All impact case studies were assessed as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).
  • Research has unearthed silenced voices of the Spanish Civil War, supporting communities in 68 towns and villages to challenge state-sponsored narratives and to re-capture memories of the 144,000 ‘disappeared’ victims of oppression.

REF 2021 in numbers:

We submitted the work of more than 220 of our staff across 12 Units of Assessment (UoAs), growing the number of staff included by around 50 per cent since REF 2014. Our submission included 469 of our best research outputs and 26 case studies of our most significant and far-reaching impact. It also included descriptions of our research environment, strategy and culture, both institutionally, and in each of our UoAs.

Further details of the REF 2021 exercise can be found here.