REF Data Collection Steering Group (DCSG)
The REF Data Collection Steering Group (DCSG) provides oversight and direction for the development of the REF submissions system. The group's remit includes ensuring that all data required for the framework can be collected from higher education institutions (HEIs), that the data is processed and managed effectively, and can be made accessible to the REF panels. The group also supports the integration of citation data from suppliers within the REF data collection system, agreeing and overseeing a robust testing strategy, providing advice on opportunities to develop consistency in the data collected in the REF data collection system with data collected by HESA and the Research Councils, to agree and oversee the system training strategy, and to monitor and advise on key implementation risks.
The membership includes representation from a range of individuals with detailed knowledge and experience of research administration or information systems.
Membership list
| Member | Company |
| Valerie McCutcheon (Chair) | University of Glasgow |
| Paul Murphy | Department for the Economy, NI |
| Michael Wood | HESA |
| Karen Kay | University of Birmingham |
| Victoria Moody | Jisc |
| Ashley Moore | UKRI |
| Sarah Theobald | University of South Wales |
| Jane Boggan | Goldsmiths, University of London |
| Andrew Jackson | Bishop Grosseteste University |
| Dave Jones | University of Sheffield |
| Kim Hackett | Research England |
| Gareth Edwards | Research England |
| Vasanthi Waller | Research England |
| Andy Hepburn | Research England |
| Gina Reid | Research England |
| Helena Mills | Research England |
Data Protection Impact Assessment
The four funding bodies are committed to meeting the GDPR requirement to consider data privacy at the initial design stages of a project as well as throughout the lifecycle of the relevant data processing.
Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) are a key mechanism for meeting this requirement and will be carried out for all new systems and ensure that privacy risks are considered at an early stage. They allow an organisation to demonstrate to data subjects and regulators that the personal data will be handled in a responsible way.
We have undertaken a DPIA for the REF submission system which is available below.
Updated September 2019.