Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/24804

Title

Building Australian higher education research

Author(s)

Young, Ian

Abstract

With the announcement of the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) as the replacement for the Research Quality Framework (RQF) and other government initiatives such as 'hub and spoke' research infrastructure and funding compacts, a unique opportunity exists to develop a research funding system for Australia’s universities which delivers real impact for the nation. All too often, however, discussions of research funding are derailed by special interests. It is only natural that institutions will try to maximize returns in any such debate. I am no purer in my behaviour than any other Vice-Chancellor. If, however, Australian universities are to demonstrate the quality of the research they conduct and the impact such research will have on the future of Australia, an optimal assessment and funding system is required. Such a system will be to the benefit of both institutions and the nation. This paper outlines some thoughts on the future shape of the ERA, including the degree of concentration of research funding within particular institutions and research focus. No debate about research funding can consider only quantum. The impact which the research will have will depend on just how thinly that quantum is spread across research groups. Therefore, the debate must also consider what will be Australia’s research focus (a small nation cannot do everything) and how we build nodes of concentration where critical mass can allow real excellence to develop. [Introduction]

Publication type

Conference paper

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Chancellery

Source

Paper presented at the 6th Annual Higher Education Summit, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 03-04 April 2008

Publication year

2008

Keyword(s)

Academic ranking;  Australia;  Colleges;  Comparisons;  ERA;  Excellence in Research for Australia;  Higher education;  Impact;  Peer review;  Research infrastructure;  Research metrics;  Research Quality Framework;  RQF;  Scholarly publishing;  Shanghai Jiaotong Index;  SHJT;  United States;  Universities

Publisher

Informa

Publisher URL

http://www.swinburne.edu.au/chance/