Source: Alamy

Time limits: is the REF driving the increase in fractional contracts and those that will end within a year of the census date?

The number of academics recruited on 0.2 contracts during the past two years has risen by nearly two-thirds, although overall levels remain relatively low, a Times ÖйúAƬ investigation can reveal.

Academics submitted to the 2014 research excellence framework must be employed on contracts specifying working hours of at least 20 per cent of their full-time equivalents. But observers fear that some universities may be recruiting significant numbers of foreign-based researchers on 0.2 contracts as a cheap and easy way to ¡°game¡± REF scores.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, THE asked 131 UK universities how many academics they have recruited on 0.2 contracts since 31 October 2011 ¨C two years prior to the census date for the REF.

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They were also asked for figures for the previous two-year period as a comparator.

The 105 institutions that provided figures within the statutory time limit have recruited 1,139 academics on 0.2 contracts since October 2011.

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This compares with 699 during the previous two years: a rise of 63?per cent.

Only 17 institutions recruited fewer academics on 0.2 contracts during the most recent two-year period. These include Click here for a full list of the responses from universities to the THE survey

paul.jump@tsleducation.com