Academics may be transferred to teaching posts, the union claims

The Association of University Teachers says they are "playing games" with staff, moving them between departments to try to lift their ratings.

The quality of research carried out by different departments is examined in a periodic assessment exercise (RAE).

The results are used in determining public funding for universities.

Last year the government announced it would concentrate research funding in universities which had the highest ratings for research.

Now lecturers claim some universities are manoeuvring staff they see as weaker researchers into teaching-only posts, retirement or redundancy.

It is already clear that many institutions have begun to play games Paul Cottrell, AUT

The AUT's assistant general secretary Paul Cottrell said: "From what we have seen of the next RAE we do not have any confidence in it and it is clear that it should be postponed.

"While the funding councils have said that the new arrangements will eliminate games-playing it is already clear that many institutions have begun to play games.

"Therefore we need to have another look at the system so that we can ensure that the objective is achieved.

"If the exercise goes ahead as-is, there are dangers that large numbers of staff will be unfairly and illegitimately excluded."

Poaching

The next research review is to be held in 2008. Under this, departments have to submit examples of their work from the time of the last review (2001) to that time.

The criteria for judging research ratings have yet to be drawn up as a review of the Research Assessment Exercise itself is under way.

Last year, a report by Sir Gareth Roberts recommended changes to the system, including the way staff ratings were used.

Sir Gareth said that, if implemented, his review would reduce the "games playing" that affected the last round of budget setting.

'Clarity'

He referred to some departments' poaching top researchers to boost their ratings.

The AUT has written to university vice-chancellors (chief executives) asking them to confirm staff will not be the victim of what it calls "game-playing".

The vice-chancellors, represented by the group Universities UK, is generally in favour of the Research Assessment Exercise, which they say is very carefully regulated although time-consuming and expensive to universities.

Professor Ivor Crewe, the president of Universities UK, told the Commons science and technology committee that vice-chancellors would oppose plans to postpone or scrap the RAE.

He said: "What the universities are looking for is clarity before 2008 about the way in which it will work, and some indication of the likely financial return."