Curious how the Hidden REF Competition works?
1. You submit your research or nominate someone working in a hidden role
2. A panel of experts reviews those submissions
3. The panel selects winners and recognises everyone who submitted
4. Celebrate!
The competition kicks off in just over a month!
What the REF is happening with books?!
We join the @hiddenref.bsky.social team to unpack the challenges of
🔓️ defining openness
💰️ funding models beyond BPCs
🪢 the tension between flexibility and REF policy!
Listen to Ep 18. now! 🎧️
For the last REF, almost 98% of submissions were in just 7 categories.
The Hidden REF Competition is working to change that! If you’ve ever thought “this kind of work should count more”, now’s your chance to say so.
Find out more and share your ideas: hidden-ref.org/hidden-ref-c...
The Hidden REF Competition 2026 officially launches at the end of May!
The last competition had 24 categories and we need your help to ensure these categories still reflect the full diversity of research outputs and roles.
Find out more and share your category suggestions:
There's still time to register for the online Hidden REF Community Call at 11:00GMT tomorrow!
hidden-ref.org/resources/co...
🎙️ Ep17. What the REF is work/life balance?!
Listen to What the REF?! via our website, on Youtube or wherever you usually find your podcasts www.youtube.com/watch?v=0whN...
Have a question about the REF or an idea for the podcast, let us know at WTreF@hidden-ref.org, BlueSky or Linkedin.
💡 Hidden REF Expert Groups
We are inviting people to join one of the Hidden REF’s expert groups and help write assessment guidance that universities can use to assess NTOs (not-traditionally submitted outputs). If you have expertise in an NTO - join us 👉 hidden-ref.org/expert-groups/
New video: What don’t we understand about the REF?
The Research Excellence Framework is still evolving - and there’s still time to shape how universities interpret the guidance.
Share your ideas with the Hidden REF.
📧 info@hidden-ref.org
Announcing the Hidden REF Competition 2026!
hidden-ref.org/2026/03/05/h...
🎙️ Podcast Ep16. What the REF is the Hidden REF Competition?!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nogk...
📢 Join us for the first Hidden REF Community Call
Shaping a Healthy Research Culture: Your Experiences, Our Future
Tuesday 27th January 2026, 11:00-12:00 GMT
📅 Add it directly to your calendar: evt.to/ehoudogmw
Full details: hidden-ref.org/resources/co...
Breaking News! The Pause is Over! What the REF is happening now?!
Simon and Ola are live at the 2025 Research & Innovation Conference, hearing Professor Dame Jessica Corner outline how REF2029 is moving forward - and we’ve got immediate reactions.
🎤 www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lYO...
During the Festival of Hidden REF, we spoke to some of our attendees to find out how they think research culture in UK higher education can be improved.
Take a look and let us know what you would like to change!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJCu...
We are delighted to be media partners for this year's Hidden REF Festival (@hiddenref.bsky.social)!
First report from Birmingham👇
Great day 1 at the Hidden REF Festival 2025.
Really friendly vibe, and really interesting discussions about non-traditional research outputs. @hiddenref.bsky.social
Write-up: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
@hiddenref.bsky.social get ready for the Lightning Talks…
@hiddenref.bsky.social Arianna Ciula, Kings College London, on how to assess Digital Outputs in the Digital Humanities…
@hiddenref.bsky.social A workplace needs to be somewhere where you don’t need to choose between authenticity and success…
@hiddenref.bsky.social Why Technicians Belong at the Design Table…
@hiddenref.bsky.social Methods are a foundational - but oft unappreciated - research output…
@hiddenref.bsky.social #FestivalHiddenREF today - lightning talks already proving quite impactful
@hiddenref.bsky.social
@hiddenref.bsky.social Understanding the diverse forms of research output at University of Sheffield…
@hiddenref.bsky.social
@hiddenref.bsky.social Can the established culture of the academy and usual disciplinary approaches enable new ways of knowing? Championing different methods of creating knowledge in HE….
@hiddenref.bsky.social Developing Evidence-informed Output Narratives using INORMS’ SCOPE Framework…
@hiddenref.bsky.social celebrating Hidden Ref 2024 Winners: Laura Henderson, Hidden Role Winner
@hiddenref.bsky.social Closing Panel session chaired by James Baker: Rewarding research excellence, recognising research careers, perspectives on evaluating diverse outputs
@hiddenref.bsky.social James Baker and Simon Hettrick with reflections and what’s next following a fantastic two days here in Birmingham
Here’s a write-up that includes my lightning talk and reflections on why technicians must be recognised in the REF:
🔗 www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Hope to work with others to get methods formally recognised as reportable research outputs in a category of their own.
Interesting ? about how best to get buy-in from the university about investing in DOTs or NTOs. Natalie says a key factor has been that Research England has supported the Hidden REF and is committed to promoting recognition and supporting assessment of NTOs. Unsurprisingly, funders have influence!
