Information on Loughborough

World-leading research across Loughborough University

Posted on 29/12/2008

Loughborough University Website

World-leading research across Loughborough University

Loughborough has been confirmed as one of the country’s leading research universities, according to the results of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) published today (18 December).

Every department was found to be undertaking research that is internationally recognised, with 18% of the University’s research considered to be ‘world leading’.

Loughborough’s research across the departments of Sport and Exercise Sciences, the Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials, and Human Sciences was assessed as the best in the UK. A further three departments Information Sciences, Social Sciences, and Civil and Building Engineering have been assessed as being in the top five in the country.

Ten of Loughborough’s departments have over 20% of their research judged to be world leading.

Loughborough submitted over 94% of its academic staff for assessment as part of the 2008 RAE a rise of around 16% from the last RAE in 2001 and one of the highest returns of any university in the country.

Vice Chancellor Professor Shirley Pearce said: “Loughborough’s position as a leading, research-intensive university is confirmed by these outstanding results. They demonstrate that our work has enormous international importance and impact.

“They also provide recognition of our strategy to support the highest quality of research and ensure our teaching is research-led, which guarantees our students the best leading-edge education in the sector.”

The RAE is conducted jointly every few years by the UK’s four higher education funding bodies. It provides information on the quality of research being undertaken in the country’s higher education institutions, the results of which then inform the allocation of research funding to each institution.