REF 2029 Main and Sub-panel Recruitment - Diversity data monitoring - UK Research and Innovation - Citizen Space

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Diversity data monitoring

Completing this diversity data collection is optional.

We actively encourage and support applications to REF panels from individuals across diverse backgrounds, career stages, and lived experiences. We recognise the critical role that inclusive representation plays in ensuring the REF assessment process reflects the breadth and vitality of UK research. Diversity data monitoring helps achieve these aims. You can read more about our committment to diversity and inclusion in REF panels here.

Transparency statement for this EDI survey

The information submitted here will be used to support the monitoring of equalities information related to the delivery of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029.

This information includes personal data and special categories of personal data such as names, contact details or Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) data.

We will process your information to produce and publish aggregated statistics of REF panel members to support the monitoring of equalities information as part of the public sector equality duty.

Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information are ‘to provide services to carry out our public task’, and ‘explicit consent’.

Collected data will be viewed by members of staff from UKRI (Research England) and treated as confidential information. All personal data provided to UKRI in connection with REF panels EDI survey will be managed in line with the current UK data protection legislation. The data will be held until 1 December 2025 and will then be destroyed. Further information on how we use personal data, and how you can exercise your rights as a data subject, can be found in UKRI's privacy notice.

UKRI reserves the right to publish and share anonymised summarised information with stakeholders. To request further information on data processing related to this survey, please email admin@ref.ac.uk.

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1. How old are you?

24 and under 25 – 29 30 – 34 35 – 39 40 – 44 45 – 49 50 – 54 55 – 59 60 – 64 65+ Prefer not to say

2. Are you a parent or guardian of a child or children under the age of 18?

Yes No Prefer not to say

3. Do you look after, or give any help or support to, anyone because they have long-term physical or mental health conditions or illnesses, or problems related to old age? Please answer ‘Yes’ to this question if this involves additional care provisions for a disabled child for whom you are a parent or guardian.

Yes No Prefer not to say

4. Do you have an impairment, health condition or learning difference that has a substantial or long-term impact on your ability to carry out day-to-day activities?

Yes No Prefer not to say

5. Do you consider yourself neurodiverse?

Yes No Prefer not to say I don’t know

6. How would you describe your ethnicity or ethnic background?

Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Chinese Any other Asian background Caribbean African Any other Black, Black British, or Caribbean background White and Black Caribbean White and Black African White and Asian Any other Mixed or multiple ethnic background English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British Irish Gypsy or Irish Traveller Roma Any other White background Arab Any other ethnic group

7. What is your sex?

Male Female Other Prefer not to say

8. How would you describe your gender identity?

Man Woman Non-binary In another way / Self-described Prefer not to say

If 'In another way / Self-described', please write this below

9. Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?

Yes No Prefer not to say

10. Are you currently pregnant or have you been pregnant in the last calendar year?

Yes No Prefer not to say

11. In the last 12 months, have you taken any of the following types of leave:

Adoption leave
Maternity leave
Paternity leave
Shared parental leave
Parental bereavement leave
Other

Yes No Prefer not to say

12. What is your religion or belief?

Agnostic Atheist Buddhist Christian (includes Roman Catholic, Protestant, Church of Scotland, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian Church of Ireland, Methodist, Church of Ireland and other denominations) Hindu Jewish Muslim No religion or belief Pagan Sikh Self-described Prefer not to say

13. How would you describe your sexual orientation?

Bisexual Gay or lesbian Heterosexual/straight Self-described Prefer not to say

14. What was the occupation of your main household earner when you were about aged 14?

Modern professional & traditional professional occupations such as: teacher, nurse, physiotherapist, social worker, musician, police officer (sergeant or above), software designer, accountant, solicitor, medical practitioner, scientist, civil / mechanical engineer. Senior, middle or junior managers or administrators such as: finance manager, chief executive, large business owner, office manager, retail manager, bank manager, restaurant manager, warehouse manager. Clerical and intermediate occupations such as: secretary, personal assistant, call centre agent, clerical worker, nursery nurse. Technical and craft occupations such as: motor mechanic, plumber, printer, electrician, gardener, train driver. Routine, semi-routine manual and service occupations such as: postal worker, machine operative, security guard, caretaker, farm worker, catering assistant, sales assistant, HGV driver, cleaner, porter, packer, labourer, waiter/waitress, bar staff. Long-term unemployed (claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance or earlier unemployment benefit for more than a year). Small business owners who employed less than 25 people such as: corner shop owners, small plumbing companies, retail shop owner, single restaurant or cafe owner, taxi owner, garage owner. Other such as: retired, this question does not apply to me, I don’t know. Prefer not to say