REF2021 judges Lab4Living and Art, Design & Media research ‘world leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ for impact

13 May 2022

The latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) results have now been released and REF2021 awards Lab4Living and ADMRC research 4* and 3* for impact. We are delighted to share results from the Art, Design & Media Research Centre (ADRMC) and Lab4Living which demonstrate the impact that our research is having on society, culture and the economy.

Key findings from REF2021:

• 90% of our research is World leading or internationally excellent (4* and 3*);
• 83.3% of our impact case studies were judged to be World leading (4*);
• 100% of our impact case studies were judged to be World leading or internationally excellent (4* and 3*);
• 100% of our research environment was judged to be World leading or internationally excellent (4* and 3*).

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education. The last REF was in 2014. ADMRC and Lab4Living submitted its research jointly to Unit of Assessment 32, Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory.

The results confirm the Art, Design & Media Research Centre and Lab4Living as two of the strongest performing research centres in Sheffield Hallam University.

Overall, Sheffield Hallam University has been rated as 72% ‘world leading’ (4) and ‘internationally recognised’ (4).

Impact Case Studies

Three impact case studies formed a significant part (25%) of the ADMRC and Lab4Living’s joint REF2021 submission.