"Our outstanding result in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise demonstrates the leading role played by the IOE in educational research in the UK and the world"
Geoff Whitty
Director of the Institute of Education, 2000-2010
Reputation
We top the league table for education research, according to the latest official audit of UK universities.
According to the 2008 RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) results the Institute of Education, London (IOE) tops the league tables* in education research in both quality and quantity. Across all subjects, the IOE's performance places it in the top 10 universities in the UK.
The Institute is the only one of the 81 education submissions to have 35% of its submission judged to be 4* (that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour). In terms of volume, the Institute's submission, 218 FTE, dominated the sector with Edinburgh second at 85 FTE. Overall, the Institute has more 4* research in education than Oxford, Cambridge, King's, Bristol, Leeds, Exeter, Manchester Metropolitan, Warwick and York (i.e. the rest of the top 10 education institutions) combined.
Commenting on the results, the Institute's then director, Professor Geoff Whitty, said: 'Our outstanding result in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise demonstrates the leading role played by the IOE in educational research in the UK and the world. I am especially pleased that the result confirms our position among the great specialist academic institutions of this country. Education touches everyone and quality research helps to transform the lives of individuals and communities.'
The IOE conducts around a quarter of the educational research carried out in UK Universities. We are also the second highest recipient of social science research funding among UK higher education institutions.
There were 276 research projects in progress during 2008-09 and 103 new research contracts started. Research at the IOE is funded by a diverse range of organisations including research councils, charities, government departments and international agencies. The IOE's income from research projects was £21.8 million in 2008-09 making the Institute one of the largest centres of social science research in the UK.
*League tables taken from reports produced by Research Fortnight, a leading research publication.