Geography in eighth place for UK research

The Geography department has excelled in this year’s Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 95% of the department’s research has been classified as being of international quality and 20% was given the highest 4* accolade of being ‘world leading’.

The results put Exeter in eighth place for Geography research in UK universities according to the quantity of 4* research.

Professor Mark Goodwin, Head of the School of Geography, Archaeology and Earth Resources, said: “Our Geography department has bases in Exeter and Cornwall and covers a broad range of research disciplines from historical and cultural geography to river basin science and climate change. These results show that we are excelling across the board. Being ranked eight in the UK will help further our international reputation for research as well as ensuring we continue to be a destination of choice for the best students.”

Exeter was one of 159 higher education institutions submitted to the RAE which measures the quality of research across the higher education sector. RAE expert panels assessed more than 200,000 pieces of work from 52,500 staff. The results will be used to distribute £1.5 billion a year worth of research funding to UK universities from August 2009.
Since the last RAE in 2001 Exeter has shown significant improvements in:

• The amount of internationally-rated research: more than 90 per cent is now internationally rated compared to 57 per cent in 2001.
  
  
• The number of staff submitted: Exeter submitted 636 staff compared to 457 in 2001. Some 95% of staff were submitted which is amongst the highest in the sector.
  
  
• The proportion of research in the very highest 4* category: now 17 per cent compared to 2 per cent in 2001.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter Professor Steve Smith said: “These results show a significant improvement since 2001. Particularly pleasing is the increase in the amount of 4* rated research. We have achieved our targets in terms of research outputs and we will be looking to build on this result as we go forward.”

The RAE rates research across a five point scale ranging from ungraded to 4*. The higher the grade the more research funding is achieved. Grades 2*, 3* and 4* denote ascending grades of international research quality. 34 per cent of research at Exeter falls into 2*, 39 per cent at 3* and 17 per cent at 4*.

20% of the Geography department’s research was classed as 4* and ‘world leading’, 40% as 3* and ‘internationally excellent’ and 35% as 2* and ‘recognised internationally’.

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