[Responsible-digital-futures] Fwd: Open Letter on REF 2029 - Research Culture

Thu Sep 18 16:55:19 BST 2025

Dear colleagues,

There is a strong link between research integrity, research culture, and
research excellence.

I welcome The UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO)’s statement on the
decision to pause the development of REF 2029.

*“At present, the REF remains one of the few sector-wide levers capable of
encouraging organisations to adopt practices that improve research
outcomes. Weakening the People, Culture and Environment (PCE) element could
risk sending the message that research culture is unimportant, slowing
progress on initiatives already underway, and limiting further scrutiny of
well-documented, systemic issues in our research system.  *

*In this context, we welcome **Research England’s announcement*
<https://www.ukri.org/news/new-programme-of-work-during-the-pause-in-ref-2029/>*
that it will undertake a new work programme during the pause – and
particularly the commitment to explore the introduction of a baseline
standard of performance in research culture as a condition of funding. This
approach rightly acknowledges the essential role that research culture and
integrity play in underpinning high-quality research, and we look forward
to its development.”  *

Details at
https://ukrio.org/news/ukrios-issues-statement-on-the-decision-to-pause-the-development-of-ref-2029/

https://2029.ref.ac.uk/news/pause-to-ref-2029-criteria-setting-and-publication-of-final-guidance/

Best wishes

Suchith

From: Suchith Anand
Date: Sat, 6 Sept 2025 at 12:51
Subject: Open Letter on REF 2029 - Research Culture

Call To Action:  UK Government, The Department for Science, Innovation and
Technology,  UKRI, United Nations,  United Nations Human Rights Council,
African Union, G20 South Africa Summit 2025 , Governments of Global South
countries,  Commonwealth Secretariat, Universities UK, Russell Group,
Association of African Universities, Association of Commonwealth
Universities, Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering,
Vice-chancellors, leaders of professional and scientific organisations,  senior
university leaders, university staff , EDI leads, Higher Education
stakeholders

Dear colleagues

It is disappointing to learn about racism in some UK work environments.
Racial discrimination is illegal as per the UK law. It is a sad fact that
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students are suffering racial
discrimination in silence for many years in many UK universities. There is
a huge pressure to hide racial discrimination under the carpet and silence
colleagues who raise these issues.

More than 120,000 workers from minority ethnic backgrounds have quit their
jobs because of racism, suggests a landmark study that has found workplace
discrimination is sapping the confidence of a large part of the UK
workforce.

Details at
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/01/more-than-120000-workers-quit-jobs-because-of-racism-uk-study-suggests

UK universities are institutionally racist, says leading vice-chancellor

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/apr/28/uk-universities-are-institutionally-racist-says-leading-vice-chancellor

Black scientists say UK research is institutionally racist

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58795079

Webinar discussion: Why are there so few Black professors, and what can we
do about it?
https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/news/webinar-discussion-why-are-there-so-few-black-professors-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/

Nature article published on “ How UK science is failing Black researchers —
in nine stark charts"

https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-022-04386-w/index.html

More details and link to Open Letter on “Racism in UK Universities” at
https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/geoforall/2024-December/006552.html

I request that the UK Government, Department for Science, Innovation &
Technology , UKRI,  Research Funders, Equality and Human Rights Commission
to investigate this as it is affecting thousands of Black and minority
ethnic staff and students in the UK.

I am an opponent of racism in science and academia.  Racial discrimination
is illegal as per the UK law. All colleagues raising concerns on racial
discrimination in any UK university need to be protected.

I had to suffer racial discrimination for over 10 years at a UK university
during my early career. I decided to share my experience so that in future
other colleagues don’t have to suffer racial discrimination in any UK
university.  I was denied even a single promotion continuously for 10
years. I was doing excellent research, published high quality journal
papers, contributed to university teaching, brought in lots of research
funding for the university,  established new research labs in the
university and globally , supervised Masters and PhD students, served as an
external PhD examiner to other UK and European universities ,  gave invited
keynote presentations at international scientific conferences, chaired
international scientific committees but I still had to suffer racial
discrimination in promotions continuously for 10 years. When I finally had
the courage to raise this, then the university management were doing
everything to silence me and cover up. This is clear evidence of the scale
of racial discrimination happening in some UK universities.

I am grateful to the International Science Council for giving me the
courage to share about racial discrimination that I had to suffer over 10
years during my early career at a UK university. I decided to share my
experience so that in future colleagues and students don’t suffer
racism.  Details
at
https://council.science/current/blog/no-problem-is-too-big-combating-discrimination-in-geospatial-science/

Following my interview with the International Science Council , I had many
Black and minority ethnic colleagues from across various universities in UK
contacting me and thanking me for showing the courage to speak out against
Racism. It is so sad and disappointing to hear the scale of racial
discrimination experiences from Black and minority ethnic colleagues in
some UK universities.

It is important to talk about research culture and the Research Excellence
Framework 2029. I thank the UK university community and REF 2029 community
for this focus on research culture for REF 2029. Let us all work to build a
healthy and thriving research system that delivers the maximum benefits for
society.

It is imperative to implement the recommendations outlined in the report on
Creating Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Higher Education by all UK
universities.

More details at
https://www.henley.ac.uk/news/2024/action-needed-to-dismantle-systematic-barriers-faced-by-black-academics

Together, let's drive meaningful change towards a more inclusive and
equitable representation in the UK academic landscape. Let us support the
values of equity, diversity, and inclusion, continuing to build communities
where all voices are heard, and every individual thrives.

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Let’s build a world beyond racism and discrimination, where we all exercise
our human rights. Be a human rights champion!

Best wishes

Suchith

Professor Suchith Anand

Professor of Practice in Science Policy | Senior Adviser to Governments and
International Organisations | Scientist | Global Citizen | Science
Diplomacy |  SDG Volunteer and Advocate

https://spspa.exeter.ac.uk/people/profile/index.php?username=sa1131
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