Historical research judged as world class at Teesside

Historical research at the University of Teesside has been judged as being at the level of international excellence - with the History research team being awarded a 5 in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) conducted by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

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This is the first time the University has received a 5 in the RAE and Professor Anthony Pollard, co-ordinator of Historical Research at Teesside, described the result as “absolutely wonderful news.”

He said: “What is so rewarding is that a peer review by eminent historians has judged the quality of our work at Teesside as being of international standing.”

The University’s History group specialises in both medieval and modern history, with a particular focus on the history of the locality and region.

The University is also celebrating a marked improvement in the research quality for its researchers in the School of Health with the section scoring two 3s. Professions Allied to Medicine moved up two places - from 2 last time to 3a this time round and Hospital-based clinical subjects getting a 3b.

Sociology at the University of Teesside got a 3a and Applied Mathematics received a 3b in the RAE. Other subjects entered by Teesside got 2s - which equates to attainable level of national excellence in up to half of the research activity submitted.

Mark White, Head of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, said: “We are pleased that along with most of the modern universities our performance in the RAE has improved significantly and delighted to share the success of our History colleagues, who have done tremendously well in an assessment exercise geared more towards rewarding the older universities who have been funded for research for much longer than us.

“Sociology has again scored a 3a, but with a much larger group of researchers - up from 9 entered five years ago to 23 this year. We are also delighted that our health researchers have done so well - with Professions Allied to Medicine scoring a 3a (compared to a 2 last time) and with a much bigger team (20 compared to 5 last time).”

RAE explained…what do the results mean

5 Quality that equates to attainable levels of international excellence in up to half of the research activity submitted and to attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all of the remainder.

4 Quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all of the research activity submitted, showing some evidence of international excellence.

3a Quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in over two thirds of the research activity submitted, possibly showing evidence of international excellence.

3b Quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in more than half of the research activity submitted.

2 Quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in up to half of the research activity submitted.

1 Quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in none, or virtually none, of the research activity submitted

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