** UPDATE 22/03/2011 ** HEFCE has recently updated the timetable for the REF. Please see the blog post on the latest announcement.

HEFCE has announced the new timeframe for the Research Excellence Framework following the announcement by David Willetts on the 9th July, as discussed previously on this blog that it would be delayed for a year to give HEFCE and academics more time to design an acceptable way to measure the social and economic impact of research.

The new timetable means that the deadline for submissions will be in late 2013 with the outcome published in December 2014.

Here is the revised REF timetable:

July 2010 – Announce panel structure and start recruitment of expert panels
September 2010 – Deadline for applications for sub panel chairs
October 2010 – Deadline for nominating panel members
November 2010 – Impact pilot exercise report and events
December 2010 – Panel recruitment completed
Early 2011 – Panels begin meeting
Mid 2011 – Panels consult on criteria
Mid 2011 – Guidance on submissions published
Late 2011 – Panel criteria and methods published
Early 2013 – Submission system operational
Late 2013 – Submissions deadline
2014 – Assessment phase
December 2014 – Outcomes published
2015 – Outcomes will be used for research funding allocations

The four main panel chairs have also been announced :

Main Panel A: Professor Stephen Townley Holgate – MRC Clinical Professor of Immunopharmacology, University of Southampton
Main Panel B: Professor Dame Ann Dowling – Head of Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge
Main Panel C: Professor Dame Janet Finch – Professor of Sociology, University of Manchester
Main Panel D: Professor Bruce Brown – Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research, Economic and Social Engagement), University of Brighton.