REF 2029 Conference 2026
The REF 2029 Conference 2026 will provide universities with a clear and practical understanding of the final Research Excellence Framework and the action now required to prepare for delivery. Taking place immediately after the scheduled publication of the final guidance and panel criteria, the Conference will examine the implications for institutional research strategy, governance, evidence, systems, people and investment.
The Conference will explore how institutions can translate the revised framework into a coordinated and proportionate readiness plan, bringing together the strategic choices and practical delivery requirements across CKU, Engagement and Impact, SPRE, data assurance, open access and institutional decision-making.
The Conference will explore practical strategies for:
- Interpreting the final REF 2029 guidance, panel criteria and immediate institutional implications
- Building a whole-institution delivery roadmap with clear governance, ownership and assurance
- Aligning REF preparation with institutional research strategy, capability, resource and investment decisions
- Developing strong institution-level and unit-level SPRE evidence without duplication
- Preparing CKU submissions across outputs, substantive links, Statements of Representation and audit
- Strengthening HESA-derived volume data, Codes of Practice, impact evidence and open access assurance
Context
Why Now?
Final Guidance on Submissions and Panel Criteria and Working Methods is scheduled for publication by the end of November 2026.
Sector feedback on SPRE, submission structures, equality-related reductions and research income will inform the final framework published in autumn 2026.
HESA Staff record data for 2025/26 and 2026/27 will determine REF volume, making contract coding, research independence, SRR and UoA allocation live priorities.
Universities need an agreed operating model before submission intentions in 2027, with sufficient time to test evidence, systems, governance and internal review ahead of 2028.
What to Expect
Why attend the conference?
Understand the final REF 2029 framework, the decisions that materially affect institutional submissions and the areas where universities must now manage policy, reputational and delivery risk
Build a practical roadmap across CKU, Engagement and Impact and SPRE, with clearer approaches to governance, evidence, data assurance, workload, audit and institutional accountability
Identify the strategic choices, immediate delivery priorities and internal decisions required to create a credible, proportionate and sustainable REF 2029 operating model
Policy Context
REF 2029: The Framework Taking Shape
Three profiles with revised weightings
Contribution to Knowledge and Understanding will account for 55%, Engagement and Impact 25%, and Strategy, People and Research Environment 20% of the overall assessment.
SPRE replaces PCE
SPRE will combine institution-level and unit-level evidence, provisionally weighted 60:40, across strategy, people, infrastructure and collaboration, engagement and impact.
Outputs remain decoupled from individuals
Institutions will need to manage output selection through substantive links, a restored maximum of five outputs per researcher, Statements of Representation and proportionate audit evidence.
Volume is built from HESA data
REF-specific staff fields, UoA mapping and the two volume-contributing years require early data assurance, with an amendment process planned for spring 2027.
Impact remains central
The broad REF 2021 impact model is being retained, while institutions must maintain clear pathways, robust evidence and a defensible link between underpinning research and claimed change.
Open access requirements have changed
The revised policy applies to journal articles and conference proceedings from 1 January 2026, making compliance, exceptions, metadata and repository assurance immediate REF concerns.
Move from REF policy awareness to institutional delivery
Join research leaders translating the final framework into a practical, proportionate and evidence-led readiness plan.
Programme
Agenda
Chair’s Welcome Address: REF 2029 at the Point of Delivery
Research England Update: The Final REF 2029 Framework and What Institutions Must Do Next
- The final decisions within the Guidance on Submissions and Panel Criteria and Working Methods
- How CKU, Engagement and Impact and SPRE will operate together across the assessment
- Clarification on volume, substantive links, Statements of Representation, Codes of Practice and audit
- The delivery timetable through submission intentions, the submission window and the 2028 deadline
- What institutions should prioritise immediately following publication of the final guidance
REF 2029 and the Strategic Choices Ahead for Research Leaders
- What the revised framework means for institutional research strategy, investment and capability
- How panel criteria will shape evidence, assessment and decision-making across different disciplines
- Balancing accountability and burden reduction while protecting research quality and organisational trust
- Using REF preparation to strengthen long-term research performance rather than create a parallel compliance exercise
Break and Networking
Panel Discussion: From Final Guidance to a Credible Institutional REF 2029 Plan
- The decisions research leaders need to take in the first 100 days after final guidance
- Setting proportionate governance, assurance and decision rights across executive, central and UoA teams
- Aligning REF delivery with research strategy, financial sustainability, workforce planning and institutional investment
- Managing workload and maintaining engagement across academic and professional communities
- Identifying where collaboration and shared sector practice can reduce duplication and burden
The Strategic and Delivery Questions Ahead: Building an Institution-Wide REF Operating Model
- Translating the final framework into a funded, sequenced and accountable institutional delivery plan
- Defining executive sponsorship, central ownership, faculty responsibilities and UoA decision rights
- Connecting REF readiness with research strategy, portfolio development, people, infrastructure and investment
- Creating realistic internal milestones for evidence development, review, moderation and approval
- Maintaining proportionality while giving governing bodies and senior leaders meaningful oversight
Lunch Break
SPRE in Practice: Building Evidence of Strategy, People and Research Environment
- Translating SPRE domains into a coherent evidence architecture across institutional and unit-level submissions
- Demonstrating outcomes, effectiveness and progress rather than presenting disconnected lists of activity
- Connecting strategy, researcher development, inclusion, infrastructure, collaboration and responsible research practice
- Recognising the breadth of people, roles and research activity that enable research excellence
- Using internal review to test whether claims are representative, evidenced and proportionate to institutional context
Volume, HESA Data and Codes of Practice: Building Confidence in the Institutional Evidence Base
- Understanding how REF-specific HESA staff fields, contract data, SRR, research independence and UoA allocation determine volume
- Preparing for the 2025/26 amendment process and resolving ownership across HR, planning, data and research systems
- Testing data quality, completeness, version control and reproducibility before submission pressure increases
- Developing a Code of Practice that is transparent, fair, operationally workable and aligned with the final framework
- Establishing assurance routes for exceptions, equality-related reductions and auditable institutional decisions
Break and Networking
Contribution to Knowledge and Understanding: Designing a Defensible and Inclusive Submission Strategy
- Responding to output decoupling, substantive links and the maximum number of outputs associated with an individual
- Building a transparent approach to output identification, review, selection and allocation across UoAs
- Preparing Statements of Representation that connect the submitted body of work with the research community
- Recognising interdisciplinary, collaborative, practice-based, long-form and diverse output formats
- Integrating open access compliance and proportionate audit evidence into the CKU delivery process
Engagement and Impact: Strengthening the Pipeline, Evidence and Institutional Contribution
- Maintaining a live impact pipeline that identifies strong cases early without narrowing activity solely to REF
- Building clear contribution pathways from underpinning research and engagement to demonstrable change
- Securing robust and proportionate evidence across complex, long-term and collaborative impacts
- Embedding responsible engagement and impact development across academic and professional teams
- Using REF preparation to improve institutional learning, partnerships and future research strategy
Chair’s Closing Reflections: What Institutions Need to Do Next
Build your institution’s REF 2029 delivery plan
Translate the final framework into a clear, institution-wide delivery plan.
Who Should Attend?
Audience
This Conference is designed for higher education professionals responsible for research strategy, REF delivery, research assessment, impact, environment, data and institutional assurance. Those in attendance will include:
- Pro Vice-Chancellors and Deputy Vice-Chancellors for Research and Innovation
- Directors and Heads of Research, Research Services and Research Strategy
- REF Directors, REF Managers and Research Excellence Leads
- Deans of Research, Associate Deans and Unit of Assessment Leads
- Directors and Heads of Research Impact, Engagement and Knowledge Exchange
- Research Culture, Researcher Development, EDI and People Leads
- Planning, Insight, HESA Data, Business Intelligence and Systems Leads
- Governance, Assurance, Audit, Legal and Policy Professionals
- Open Research, Scholarly Communications, Repository and Library Leaders
- Research Administrators, Faculty Research Managers and Professional Services Leads
Registration
Secure Your Ticket
HE and Public Sector
£195 + VAT
- Full-day live conference access
- Latest REF 2029 policy insight
- Practical institutional case studies
- Live chat functionality
- Breakouts and networking
- Access to event resources
Private Sector
£395 + VAT
- Full-day live conference access
- Latest REF 2029 policy insight
- Practical institutional case studies
- Live chat functionality
- Breakouts and networking
- Access to event resources
HE Team of 3
£526.50 + VAT
- Full-day live access for three delegates
- Latest REF 2029 policy insight
- Practical institutional case studies
- Live chat functionality
- Breakouts and networking
- Access to event resources
For group discounts and registration enquiries please contact us at enquiries@heprofessional.co.uk.