Thursday, 12 May 2022
The University of Nottingham’s reputation for transformational research that improves the lives of millions of people around the globe has been recognised by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021).
According to analysis by Times Higher Education, the University is placed 7th in the UK for REF2021’s measure of Research Power, which takes into account a combination of the quality of research, international impact, critical mass and sustainability.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham Professor Shearer West said: “Nottingham has often been recognised for the breadth of its research: to achieve quality across such a range of disciplines is a reflection of the talent, imagination and dedication of colleagues across the institution.
However, I am especially proud of the positive impact that our research has had on people in the UK and throughout the world, for example in healthcare, industry, business, culture, and public policy. This is a testament to the determination of our researchers to make a difference to people’s lives.
The University of Nottingham has evidenced the impact of its research through 135 case studies, which show that between 2014 and 2021 the lives of more than 100 million people have been positively changed by its research.
Examples include:
- researchers in the University’s School of Medicine helped save the NHS £233 million by transforming policies for vaccination in the adult population against pneumococcal disease, which can lead to pneumonia, blood poisoning and meningitis.
- the world’s first wearable magnetoencephalography (MEG) brain scanner demonstrates unprecedented insights into conditions including severe neurological disease like epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, and mental health conditions such as schizophrenia.
- the first large-scale study of women’s experiences of working through the menopause, aims to break the taboo around it and improving working conditions for women experiencing the menopause.
- the development of computer algorithms to reduce air traffic congestion at busy times, prevents thousands of tonnes of CO2 emissions each year and dramatically reduces delays.
In total, 157 UK universities and 76,000 academic staff participated in REF2021. Analysis included university research outputs, examples of the wider benefits of research and evidence about the research environment. This material was assessed by a series of expert panels comprising UK and international researchers, external users of research and experts in interdisciplinary research.
More information about the University of Nottingham’s transformational research, including case studies of where its researchers are making a difference in the areas of culture and communication; healthy lives; society and communities and sustainable futures, can be found on its research pages on its website.
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Notes to editors
The University of Nottingham has improved its position in each of the headline measures in REF2021, including Research Power, Grade Point Average (GPA) and Research Intensity.
According to analysis by Times Higher Education, the University is placed 25th in the UK on the measure of Grade Point Average (GPA) which takes into account the quality of its research - an improvement on REF2014 when its GPA was placed 26th. Our own analysis using THE methodology places the University 24th in the UK for Research Intensity adjusted GPA, which takes into account the proportion of eligible staff returned – an improvement from 28th place in REF2014.
The Research Excellence Framework is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions and determines the allocation of around £2 billion Quality-related funding for the coming years, starting in August 2022.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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