RQF MODEL FLAWED AND IGNORES PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO DELAY EXERCISE
November 15, 2006
The National Tertiary Education Union believes that the Federal Government’s Research Quality Framework (RQF) model is flawed and that the decision to adopt it ignores a recent report into science and innovation by the Productivity Commission that suggests delaying the exercise pending a further investigation of its costs to universities.
“NTEU will be examining the fine print of the recommended RQF model in detail,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President.
“Our initial response to the recommended model is that it is unclear or flawed in a number of crucial areas, including:
- The uncertainty as to what will actually be assessed in relation to RQF ratings and the inconsistency between the reporting requirements and the objectives of the policy.
- The lack of separate assessment panels for multi-disciplinary and Indigenous research.
- The absence of any clear formula for how the RQF’s quality and impact ratings will relate to funding.
“On the positive side, we welcome the decision to allow universities to make a special case for the inclusion of Associate Lecturers where they have an established research record, and the greater clarity on how early career researchers and Indigenous researchers might be accommodated within the RQF.”
“We are also unclear as to why the Government has chosen to ignore the recommendations contained in the draft report of the Productivity Commission’s review of public support for science and innovation.”
“This report clearly stated the Commission’s preference for the RQF’s implementation to be put on hold until it can be clearly demonstrated that its benefits outweigh its negatives in terms of implementation costs and the problems associated with universities manoeuvring in attempts to maximise their institutional outcomes from the exercise.”
“This includes the danger that the RQF could result in an elaborate ‘poaching’ exercise.”
“NTEU remains concerned as to whether the recommended RQF model will give the Australian community confidence that the distribution of public funding for research and development at our universities rewards research of the highest quality and impact.”
“A key question now is how the Federal Government intends to meet its mid-2007 deadline for the commencement of pre-implementation trials at universities, with the exercise starting in earnest in the first quarter of 2008.”
Information and Comment:
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: (03) 9254 1910
Paul Kniest, NTEU Policy and Research Officer: (03) 9254 1910