A series of benchmarking meetings was held in March 2001, May 2001, and January 2002 to allow institutions to discuss and compare their initial (and developing) Transparency Review results on an informal and confidential basis. The meetings ensured there were valid reasons for outlying figures and that the latter were not resulting purely from the use of different assumptions or methods.
Institutions have been required to complete a benchmarking template in accordance
with the 2004 Quality Assurance process. The template
is significantly based on the form used in earlier TRAC benchmarking in the
sector (1999-2002). TRAC default cost rates 2005-06 for indirect and estates
cost rates - to be used when applying to the Research Councils for grants
for research projects on a full economic cost basis - apply from September
2005, valid until February 2006. The rates were set by the Government's working
group on dual support reform and as a consequence of the Quality Assurance
process. See 
the
HEFCE website for further details.
Performance indicators
in higher education provides comparative data on UK HEIs, which may be
used for benchmarking purposes.
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