RAE 2001

The results of the RAE 2001 positioned Queen’s as a broadly-based, research-led university of international quality. An academic restructuring exercise had led to a transformation in international-quality research at the University, with significant gains since 1996 (see table below), and a dramatic change since the first RAE was undertaken in 1986.

33 units of assessment out of 40 (83%) had research of international quality. This compares favourably with 20 units in 1996 (42%) and 8 in 1992 (16%).

16 departments rated in top category 5/5* (40%) compared with 7 in 1996 (15%) and 2 in 1992 (4%).

Other highlights from the RAE 2001 include:

Further three research areas within units of assessment were rated 5/5*.
These results provided Queen’s with an increase of 11 places in the UK universities research rankings using the Times Higher Education Supplement methodology.
Almost 90% of academic staff were in units with international research excellence.
Improvements recorded in 22 units of assessment from 1996, with 7 units up by two grades.
All five Queen's Faculties have seen significant upward shifts in research quality.

2001 RAE Definitions of Quality

Grade:	Description
5^*	International excellence in more than half of research activity submitted; national excellence in remainder.
5	International excellence in up to half (11-50%) of research activity submitted; national excellence in virtually all (>90%) of remainder.
4	National excellence in virtually all (>90%) of research activity submitted; some evidence of international excellence (c. 10%).
3a	National excellence in more than two-thirds of research activity submitted; possibly evidence of international excellence.
3b	National excellence in more than half of research activity submitted.
2	National excellence in up to half (11-50%) of research activity submitted
1	National excellence in none, or virtually none (<10%), of research activity submitted.

Comparison of RAE 2001 and RAE 1996 Results

Unit of Assessment		2001 RAE			1996 RAE
Unit of Assessment		Grade	% staff returned		Grade	% staff returned
1	Clinical Laboratory Sciences	4	60.9	3b		71.6
2	Community-based Clinical Subjects	5	25.0	3a		39.6
3	Hospital-based Clinical Subjects	3a	65.9	3b		66.0
4	Clinical Dentistry	3a	78.9	2		79.0
9	Pharmacy	4	87.5	3b		54.1
13	Psychology	4	95.0	3a		68.7
14	Biological Sciences	4	90.6	3a		66.6
15	Agriculture	4	66.6	5		57.5
16	Food Science and Technology	4	73.6	4		66.6
18	Chemistry	4	100	3b		100
19	Physics	5	96.4	5		93.4
22	Pure Mathematics	3a	75.0	3a		28.5
25	Computer Science	4	96.6	4		80.7
27	Chemical Engineering	4	100	3a		100
28	Civil Engineering	5	89.1	4		100
29	Electrical and Electronic Engineering	5	100	5		100
30	Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering	5*	80.0	5*		83.3
33	Built Environment	2	91.8	2		83.6
34	Town and Country Planning	3b	100	3b		88.8
35	Geography	4	95.0	3a		74.0
36	Law	5	88.4	3a		94.2
37	Anthropology	5	92.8	4		84.6
39	Politics and International Studies	5	95.6	4		88.0
41	Social Work	4	93.8	3a		80.0
42	Sociology and Social Policy	5	100	4		100
43	Business and Management Studies	4	87.3	3a		70.2
48A	Institute of European Studies	5	100	4		90.0
48B	Institute of Irish Studies	5	100	5		94.7
49	Celtic Studies	5	100	4		100
50	English Language and Literature	5	100	3a		82.6
51	French	4	100	4		90.0
52	German, Dutch and Scandinavian Languages	4	100	3a		100
55	Iberian and Latin American Languages	4	100	4		100
57	Classics, Ancient History, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies	4	100	3a		100
58	Archaeology	5	100	5		90.9
59A	History	5	88.8	4		90.0
62	Philosophy	3a	59.3	3a		34.7
66	Drama, Dance and Performing Arts	3b	100	-		-
67	Music	5	88.8	5		85.7
68	Education	4	85.7	4		76.2

RAE 2001

2001 RAE Definitions of Quality

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