Welsh Government
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Welsh universities producing world class research
The Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, Professor Julie Williams, has congratulated Welsh universities on their excellent results in a major new assessment of the quality of research across higher education throughout the UK.
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 found more than three-quarters of the research submitted by universities in Wales to be world-leading or internationally excellent. This is a significant improvement on the results in the predecessor to the REF, which took place in 2008.
Welsh universities scored particularly well on the new measure of ‘impact’, which assessed the wider economic, social and cultural benefits of universities’ research. Nearly half of the research submitted by Welsh universities was found to be world-leading in terms of its contribution to the economy and society.
Professor Julie Williams said:
“I would like to congratulate Welsh universities for these excellent results. The Research Excellence Framework shows the higher education sector is producing high-quality, world-class research in a number of areas. It is particularly pleasing to note the progress made since the last assessment of research in 2008 and the impact that research is having beyond the academic world. However, I believe Wales can do even better. It is clear the research being produced here is of the highest standard but we need more of it if Wales is to reap the greatest possible economic and social benefits. That is why the Welsh Government is investing in the capacity of our research base with programmes such as Sêr Cymru, which will soon be moving into an exciting new phase.”
Minister for Economy and Science, Edwina Hart added:
“Science and innovation is vital to creating economic growth and wealth for Wales. These results show researchers in Wales are among the best in the UK and the world. I am particularly encouraged by the success of the research in the new category of its impact on the wider economy and society. That is why I am confident the Welsh Government’s investment in growing our research sector, through programmes such as Sêr Cymru, will deliver long-term, sustainable economic and social benefits for Wales.”
