REF2021: Sport Science again ranked in top UK universities

LJMU’s Sport and Exercise Sciences research will be ranked in the top five in the UK, based on the REF results published today (May 12).

Research outputs were adjudged to be 96.2% ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’ by the Research Excellence Framework, a national audit of university quality.

And more than 50% of the team’s overall profile - outputs, impact and research culture or ‘environment’ was deemed ‘world-leading’.

Professor Bill Baltzopoulos, Head of the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, said he was delighted with the result, which places LJMU 2^nd in the UK for ‘research power’ – which ranks universities not only on quality of research but the amount of research it performs.

That the team’s research environment was graded 100% ‘world-leading’ was particularly pleasing, he said.

Pioneering tradition

“Clearly success reflects the long history of Sport and Exercise Sciences at LJMU, which was the first university to introduce a degree in sport science more than 45 years ago.

“We believe the ranking reflects the strength and breadth of our activity across brain and behaviour science, biomechanics, cardiovascular health sciences, physiology, psychology, physical activity, coaching and pedagogy and football science."

With many universities submitting only their very best researchers to maximise their scores, LJMU took a more inclusive approach without watering down quality.

“We were pleased to include 66 researchers, almost doubling the number involved from 2014,” added Professor Baltzopoulos.