THE department of Mathematics and Statistics in the Faculty of Science and Technology was ranked first of 157 UK universities for research impact in the latest Research Excellence Framework results published today.

The ranking was based on grade point average, a measure of the overall quality of research, with 100% of the department’s research impact rated outstanding. The results also showed the department was rated ‘world-leading or internationally excellent’ for 100% of its overall research.

Elsewhere, Lancaster Environment Centre was ranked fifth in the UK based on research power, a measure of globally-significant research at scale, and second for creating real-world impact from its research, based on grade point average. Some 96% of the environment centre’s research was described as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Meanwhile, the School of Computing and Communications came 14th in the UK overall for research power.

Other notable successes include:

• Lancaster Environment Centre was ranked fifth in the UK overall, fifth for research outputs, sixth for research impact and fourth for research environment, when ranked according to research power.
• 95% of the Engineering department’s research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
• In the Physics department, 98% of research outputs were rated world-leading or internationally excellent. Physics was ranked 14th in the UK for its research outputs and for the quality of its research environment.
• The School of Computing and Communications was ranked 13th in the UK for research environment and saw 75% of its research impact rated outstanding.
• 85% of research in Chemistry was rated world-leading or internationally excellent, while 88% of the department’s research environment was rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
• In Psychology, 87% of research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent, while 67% of research impact was rated outstanding.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessment is undertaken every seven years and looks at the quality of research across UK universities while demonstrating the output of research on a domestic and global stage. The REF also shows the impact research has on the academic environment and society, while highlighting its real-world benefits.

The four UK higher education funding bodies use the REF, managed by a team based at Research England, and a steering group from the four funding bodies, to help guide the allocation of £2 billion of research funding per year. The REF review is designed to show public investment in research has defined benefits and impact.

Professor Peter Atkinson, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, said: “I am delighted to see the Faculty’s research has been judged to be of such high quality by the Research Excellence Framework 2021.

“Each of the seven departments assessed has followed its strategic plan for research over the last six years and this has seen them keep pace with sector increases in research quality, and in many cases forge ahead of them.

“The fact that so much of the Faculty’s research has been judged world-leading or internationally excellent means students looking at joining us here in Lancaster can be assured that they are learning from some of the very best people in their respective fields.

“The Research Excellence Framework was brought in to reassure the public that the money invested into research has genuine real-world benefits so I am really pleased with the strength of the results around our research impact.

“For ourselves, this assessment provides assurance that the quality of research in the Faculty continues to be excellent and confirms we have a superb platform upon which to build towards future research success.”