The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) assesses the quality of research in universities and colleges in the UK. The outcome of the RAE is used to determine the research grant given by the higher education funding bodies and also serves as an informal guide to research standing of Schools and Departments.
The 2008 RAE results were published in the form of a ‘quality profile’. This shows a weighted distribution of those research activities which were submitted to the RAE for assessment. A percentage is given for each of five categories, from 4* to U (see below for a detailed explanation of the categories). The published percentage has been rounded to the nearest 5%.
The School submitted the work of 34 academic staff, and was awarded the profile:
4* 30%
3* 45%
2* 20%
1* 5%
There were 81 submissions nationally for computer science. Comparisons can be made in a number of different ways.
Within the University of Birmingham, the School has done particularly well. The proportion of 4* awards is the highest in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and equal 3rd in the University as a whole.
4* Quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
3* Quality that is internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour but which nonetheless falls short of the highest standards of excellence.
2* Quality that is recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
1* Quality that is recognised nationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
U: Quality that falls below the standard of nationally recognised work. Or work which does not meet the published definition of research for the purposes of the assessment
