London Universities’ Council for Academic Freedom
lucaf-london.bsky.social
London Universities’ Council for Academic Freedom
@lucaf-london.bsky.social
The London Universities’ Council for Academic Freedom is an academic-led and non-partisan organisation founded in 2023, which is committed to supporting academic freedom. Website https://lucaf.org/index.php
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Who are the London Universities’ Council for Academic Freedom (Lucaf)? They now have a website and quite an 'interesting' group composition. 2/2 lucaf.org/index.php
LUCAF - London Universities' Council for Academic Freedom
The London Universities' Council for Academic Freedom is a non-partisan network of academics which seeks to promote academic freedom across the universities of London.
lucaf.org
May 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Reposted by London Universities’ Council for Academic Freedom
'The letter from the London Universities’ Council for Academic Freedom (Lucaf) raises concerns about planned changes to REF 2029, particularly the new people, culture and environment section, which is set to account for 25 per cent of institutions’ overall REF score.' 1/2
May 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
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Archived story: archive.ph/j8DBD
archive.ph
May 5, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by London Universities’ Council for Academic Freedom
We urge ministers and UKRI to look closely at these proposals and consider whether they are fit for purpose and support the proper priorities of universities and funding bodies.

Read the briefing note:

lucaf.org/viewdocument...
REF 2029 Briefing Note
REF 2029 Briefing Note
lucaf.org
May 5, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by London Universities’ Council for Academic Freedom
At a time of great economic difficulty for higher education, tying the hands of institutions in ways which will constrain innovation is unhelpful. Research England has not consulted meaningfully with the academic community and its decision making has been far from transparent.
May 5, 2025 at 7:05 AM
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These proposals pose serious risks to research integrity and quality, to academic freedom and to institutional autonomy and diversity. They will also lead to an unwanted increase in unproductive university bureaucracy at the expense of practical support for staff.
May 5, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by London Universities’ Council for Academic Freedom
The assessment framework includes a number of criteria whose merit might be legitimately debated such as membership of the Athena Swan scheme and the Race Equality Charter, the creation of safe spaces and the inclusion of EDI activities in the promotion process.
May 5, 2025 at 7:05 AM
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The signatories include some of the most eminent scholars in their fields.

"The introduction of a ‘People, Culture and Environment’ (PCE) section, weighted at 25%, will weaken the link between research quality and REF performance".

lucaf.org/viewdocument...
Open letter on Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029
Open letter on Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029
lucaf.org
May 5, 2025 at 7:05 AM
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🧵Over 200 academics have written to funders
@UKRI_News and ministers to express concern about plans for the next REF - an exercise which distributes £2 billion of research funds pa to universities.

The plans pose serious risks to HE

www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Linking research funding to diversity ‘curbs academic freedom’
Almost 200 academics are objecting to proposals requiring universities to show they are ‘robustly’ promoting inclusion to obtain £2bn in taxpayer funds
www.thetimes.com
May 5, 2025 at 7:05 AM