Panel compositions and working methods

Evaluation panels will be created to balance the workload based on the expected number of submissions in each category, and the ability of a single panel to assess submissions from the categories that have been grouped together.  This may mean that a number of categories will be evaluated within a single panel.

Panel members will be recruited from national and international experts in evaluation, and in the particular categories.  If you would like to be considered as a panel member please contact us at info@hidden-ref.org. The composition of panels will remain the responsibility of the Hidden REF Committee.  Special attention will be paid to ensure an even number of people, gender- and race-balance on each panel.  Consensus will be reached through deliberation, rather than voting. There will be potential for additional assessors for specific categories which receive large numbers of submissions.

A Hidden REF committee member will be assigned as Panel Chair to each panel to manage suggestions for composition.  Panel Chair and membership details will be added here in due course.

The same criteria for assessment will be applied across all panels with the aim of celebrating and highlighting the diversity of UK research.  Criteria are evolving constructs that will be reviewed and adjusted after every Hidden REF exercise in preparation for the next event.

Principles of the Hidden REF

  1. To include everyone and everything and leave nothing behind (visibility)
  2. To assess the contribution across  the diversity, richness, and variety of UK research (significance)

All submissions will be celebrated and highlighted as examples of the diversity of the UK research base that is overlooked by traditional research assessment and will be published on the Hidden REF website to raise awareness.

The best example or examples from each panel will be chosen as the winner. The panel has the discretion to award Highly Commended to submissions as they see fit.