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Can someone explain why none of the three research excellence framework panellists selected to represent Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American studies on the modern languages panel has any previous research assessment exercise experience, even though the subject association had nominated more than one veteran panellist? This criterion is expressly indicated by the ÖйúAƬ Funding Council for England as being of particular importance. If this is how Hefce proposes to meet its own criteria, how can we trust the REF's credibility?

Catherine Davies, Head, School of Modern Languages and Cultures, University of Nottingham