Research Assessment Exercise 2008

The RAE 2008 involved a peer review of four outputs per member of staff entered, as well as an assessment of the research environment, progress of research students and indicators of esteem.

The School entered staff into two Units of Assessment: Architecture and the Built Environment (30) and Town & Country Planning (31).

Architecture

In Unit of Assessment 30 the School entered 16 staff (9.64 FTE) and achieved a very good rating with an overall profile of 90% of its work adjudged to be of international standard or better. 22% of its outputs were rated exceptional and world-leading in the highest category. Westminster came out in the top 10 architecture schools for research.

The sub-panel noted that The outputs were found to provide significant positive evidence of international recognition, with substantial evidence of internationally outstanding or excellent outputs across all three groups.

They also noted that There was strong evidence of a good research environment, some of which was outstandingThere are excellent links between practice-based work and industry, with fractional appointments from industry integrated into the departments research.

Town & Country Planning

In Unit of Assessment 31 the School entered 17 staff (15.8 FTE) and achieved a very good profile particularly for publications. At least 70% were rated of international standard or better.

The panel noted that all aspects of the research environment are adequate and capable of fostering sound research..The sub-panel noted excellent income generation activity across a broad range of funders and good engagement with research users.

The School will use any resources arising from the RAE to enhance its dynamic research culture, produce an increasing number of excellent publications and continue to deliver excellent research outputs to a variety of funders: research councils, government and industry, and charitable bodies, with an emphasis on policy-relevance and real-world applications.

Further information on the RAE our contributions to it can be obtained from:

For Architecture:

Professor Murray Fraser m.fraser@westminster.ac.uk

Or

Professor Jeremy Till j.till@westminster.ac.uk

Both were members of the Architecture and Built Environment sub-panel

For Town & Country Planning:

Professor Nick Bailey baileyn@westminster.ac.uk