Excellence in Research for Australia (Previously the Research Quality Framework)
News
18 August 2008
Leading Researchers Advise ARC on the Indicators of Research Quality
The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, and CEO of the Australian Research Council (ARC), Margaret Sheil, today announced the establishment of an Indicators Development Group (IDG) to advise on the application of discipline-specific indicators for the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative.
The Group is made up of twelve research metrics and statistical experts. Three of these experts are from overseas – see press release.
In addition, the ARC has established two sub-committees to assist the IDG with the development of the approach to the evaluation of research in the Creative Arts and in the Humanities. The sub-committees are chaired by leading researchers from the sector, and comprise eminent members of the sector with expertise in the relevant disciplines for Cluster 2. The sub-committees will report directly to the IDG.
Information on the IDG and sub-committees membership is available on the ARC website.
13 June 2008
ARC Releases Research Outlet Rankings
The ARC has released the current version of the Research Outlet Rankings and has called for responses in July. These rankings will form an important component of the ERA process for all panels. Each university is permitted to make one response on these rankings. The University of Sydney will coordinate its responses through a panel of senior academics who will combine the suggestions for forwarding to the ARC.
Click here for the current list
Click here for the instructions on how to make changes to the list and how to submit them.
31 March 2008
New Classification to assist ERA Development
The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, announced on March 31st 2008 that the new Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC) will be a primary tool for defining disciplines and the make-up of discipline clusters in the Government’s Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative – see press release.
“The new classification is more closely aligned to research currently being undertaken in Australia and New Zealand and will enable greater accuracy in data collection and analysis, especially in emerging fields of research such as nanotechnology and climate change.”
“The ANZSRC contains about 40 per cent more research codes than the 1998 Standard Research Classification it replaces. The former RFCD codes have been updated with Field of Research codes, and the socio-economic objective codes refreshed.”
Further information on the ANZSRC may be obtained at the Australian Bureau of Statistics webpage.
26 February 2008
The RQF has a new name - Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, today announced his plans for a new research quality and evaluation system – see press release.
“The Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative, to be developed by the Australian Research Council (ARC) in conjunction with the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, will assess research quality using a combination of metrics and expert review by committees comprising experienced, internationally-recognised experts.”
11 January 2008
Senator the Hon. Kim Carr, Minister for Industry, Innovation, Science and Research announced on December 21st 2007 that the current RQF round was to be cancelled and that consultation on a new process would be undertaken - See Press Release.
Thank you all for the time and effort that you have put in to this process so far. There will, however, be a replacement for the RQF which is expected to be largely metrics based and therefore the data collection undertaken thus far for the RQF remains relevant and important. The RQF team will be concentrating on the completion of the 2001-2007 data collection and verification process through the first months of 2008. If you have not completed checking and correcting the data we hold for you in IRMA, it is important that you do so immediately. Please send changes and/or additions to the IRMA helpdesk at as soon as possible.
Research publications and income data for 2007 is now likely to be particularly important, both in its own right and potentially as a benchmark for the new RQF. We must ensure that 2007 data is captured accurately and with the same sense of importance as we have attributed to the capture of 2001-2006 data.
Thank you again for all your contributions thus far. If you have any questions please contact the University's ERA Liaison Officer Joseph Bevitt ( or 9036 6145).
Professor Merlin Crossley
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
