REF2021 Research Environment

The University of Northampton (UON) continues to develop a more supportive, inclusive, and collaborative research culture to enable our researchers to flourish in their chosen area of expertise.

For REF 2021, ‘environment’ was assessed as the environment for supporting research and enabling impact within each submitting unit. Environment accounted for 15% of the overall outcome awarded to each submission and was assessed against two criteria: vitality and sustainability.

Each University submitted an environment statement for all units of assessment submitted, alongside an institutional level environment statement (not graded).

As a signatory of the Universities UK Concordat to Support Research Integrity UON is committed to maintaining the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research.

The University has a Research Integrity Policy and Action Plan that outlines our wider commitments to reviewing and developing our culture of integrity and developing our researchers to ensure best practice and fulfilling the requirements of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity.

Unit 32:  Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory was assessed as having 77.5% of its environment as being internationally excellent.

In all the Units of Assessment that were submitted we were recognised as having elements of an environment that was of an international standard.