Professor Bruce Brown has been appointed as one of 15 leading academics nationally to chair one of the RAE Panels
15 Aug 2013
It was announced at the end of September that Professor Bruce Brown, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Architecture at the University, had been appointed as one of 15 leading academics nationally to chair of one of the Main Panels for the next RAE. He was a member of the Art & Design Panel in RAE 2001 and has considerable peer review experience nationally and internationally. He is the only academic drawn from the post-1992 Universities to be appointed as Chair of one of the new “Super Panels”. These key appointments mark the first stage in establishing the Panel and Sub-panel membership, the composition of both categories being announced in December 2004 and the first round of panel meetings scheduled for early 2005. Guidance for panels on establishing appropriate working methods and criteria will also be published at this time.
These 15 key posts were advertised nationally, attracting 106 candidates who were selected on the basis of their significant research record, understanding of the role and impact of the RAE, and senior experience in conducting or commissioning research, research management or leadership across a broad discipline field. In addition, the candidates were required to demonstrate knowledge of research quality assessment and peer review, and experience of committee work. As Main Panel Chair, Bruce Brown will have responsibility for a wide range of sub-panels: Art and Design, the History of Art, Architecture and Design, Drama, Dance and Performing Arts, Communications, Cultural and Media Studies, and Music, all areas which are reflected in the disciplinary composition of the Faculty of Arts and Architecture.
It should be noted that this two-tier panel structure for RAE 2008 marks a significant change from the previous RAE, and is designed to ensure a consistent approach to the assessment of cognate subject areas. The role of the Main Panel Chair is crucial to ensuring that the 2008 RAE panel structure allows the successful development of consistent overall quality standards, common assessment procedures and equal opportunities guidance.
