Universities must champion diversity or face funding cuts under new plan

Reforms to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) could result in universities facing more consequences for not upholding diversity.

The REF is responsible for “assessing the excellence of research” in UK universities and helps inform how the £2 billion budget to fund higher education research is allocated. 

While equality and diversity previously accounted for 15% of the criteria for funding allocation, the new system would raise this to 25% under the new banner of “people, culture and environment”.

The scheme would require universities to submit evidence of ways in which they promote diversity and inclusion, including the number of black, Asian, and mixed-race students eligible for funding and the percentage of promotion success for each group

The scheme would require universities to submit evidence of ways in which they promote diversity and inclusion, including the number of black, Asian, and mixed-race students eligible for funding and the percentage of promotion success for each group.

Universities which fail to meet these requirements could be subject to cuts in funding.  

Critics of this proposal have argued that it would put further pressure on higher education institutions which are already struggling financially. 

Hywel Edwards, a member of the steering group for REF, has acknowledged that the pilot scheme could be “burdensome”, but still argued that it was an important measure to bring in.  

The proposal comes at a time when DEI initiatives are being questioned or removed, particularly in the US. Some argue that enforcing diversity measures on universities is unnecessary given that international businesses such as Accenture are taking a step back from diversity.  

University of London’s Ian Pace, a professor of culture, music and society, raised concerns that these measures would encourage universities to prioritise “ideological conformity” over high-quality research output.  

However, others have celebrated the initiative, noting that it encourages universities to look beyond research when making decisions on funding allocation. 

Rebecca Fairbairn, director of the REF, has stressed that diversity only makes up a “small part” of the criteria, and that the system would intend to prioritise supporting “excellence”.