Imperial Computing Comes 2nd in Research Assessment Exercise

The Department of Computing is delighted that it has come equal  second  (*) in the recent 2008 Research Assessment Exercise carried out by HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council of England). The assessment concludes that 85% of DoC's research output is either "world-leading" or "internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour". This means that the department is one of only four 5*-rated departments to achieve an average of 3.20 or higher in the current assessment and is one of only 2 departments (with Cambridge) to have achieved top-ranking in all Research Assessment Exercises for Computing over the last 15 years.

The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise is critical as it decides the destination of £1.5 billion of annual research funding, with the Government looking to concentrate that funding on the top-performing departments in each discipline. This funding, which secures research facilities, studentships and appointments, will ensure that the department can stay at the forefront in Computing research and education in the next decade.

Head of Department, Prof Jeff Magee said: "I would like to thank everyone in the Department for the hard work that has brought about this excellent result."

(*) Source: Times Higher Education RAE League table for Computer Science and Informatics, 18 December 2008

Written by: RSI