CHAMPIONING STRENGTHENS SEEN AS KEY TO PROMOTING RESEARCH QUALITY
27 February 2008
Detailed discipline based reports highlighting established and emerging areas of research strength are to be the primary outcomes of Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA), a new research quality and evaluation system announced yesterday by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr.
“Highlighting areas of international research competitiveness as well identifying emerging areas of research strength will ensure a positive environment for the promotion and encouragement of research ”, Dr Carolyn Allport, National President NTEU, said today.
“The ERA has several advantages over the competitive ranking exercise being developed under the previous government’s RQF.”
“The ERA will involve a review of institutional discipline based research rather than allowing universities to nominate teams of researchers for inclusion as was the case in the RQF.”
“NTEU believes that reviewing whole disciplines has a better prospect of encouraging collaboration between researchers and universities compared to the creation of league tables.”
“Being disciplined based is also critical because it speaks directly to the research community in familiar language but also ensures discipline based experts determine the nature and mix of any metrics or performance indicators that might to be utilised.”
“Giving the Australian Research Council (ARC) the responsibility for developing and administering the ERA is important so that all involved will have confidence in knowing those responsible are acknowledged experts in their disciplines.”
“While the ERA is a good first step to encourage and support research excellence, the NTEU would highlight that more needs to be done in the areas of providing world class research infrastructure and having a system of research grants and funding that actively supports the development of Australia’s early career researchers to ensure areas of internationally competitive research are not lost in the future.”
"The NTEU looks forward to further discussions with both the Minister and the ARC on the details of the ERA.”
For more information or comment contact:
Paul Kniest, Policy and Research Coordinator, (03) 9254 1910