Institutions conducting the best research receive a larger proportion of the available grant so that the infrastructure for the top level of research in the UK is protected and developed. It takes place every four to five years and the next exercise will be held in 2001. The RAE provides quality ratings for research across all disciplines.
Panels use a standard scale to award a rating for each submission.
This information clearly has a much wider value than its immediate purpose. For example, it can be helpful in guiding funding decisions in industry and commerce, charities and other organisations that sponsor research. It also gives an indication of the relative quality and standing of UK academic research. Furthermore, the RAE provides benchmarks which are used by institutions in developing and managing their research strategies. Across the UK as a whole, research quality as measured by the RAE has improved dramatically over the last decade.