Excellence in Research for Australia

Consultation on the Research Outlet Rankings

The ERA initiative will use a range of indicators and other proxies to support the evaluation of research excellence. One of these indicators is discipline-specific tiered outlet rankings.

The ARC is seeking feedback from the sector to assist with the development of research journal rankings. This is the second phase of consultation and is to primarily canvass the views of higher education providers

See JCU's draft Journal Ranking List page

Ten Points we currently know about the ERA

While the fog is slowly lifting, this is what we currently know:

1. These evaluations of research excellence will be informed by three broad categories of indicators:
   • measures of research activity and intensity;
   • indicators of research quality; and
   • indicators of excellent applied research and translation of research outcomes.
2. Research quality will be determined by discipline-specific tier rankings of outlets and, where necessary, by expert review.
3. It will help inform discussions between universities and government in developing mission-based compacts.
4. It will be administered by the Australian Research Council.
5. Expert panels will be set up for the individual cluster assessments and then disbanded, much like the current ARC grants review process.
6. Research funding will be decoupled from performance in the first ERA round.
7. There will be eight disciplinary clusters:
• Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences (PCE)
• Humanities and Creative Arts (HCA)
• Engineering and Environmental Sciences (EE)
• Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences (SBE)
• Mathematics, Information and Communication Sciences (MIC)
• Biological Sciences and Biotechnology (BSB)
• Biomedical and Clinical Research (BCR)
• Public and Allied Health and Health Services (PAHHS)
8. Each cluster report will detail by institution and discipline
9. It will begin in 2009 with 2 clusters: Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences (PCE) and Humanities and Creative Arts (HCA).
10. There will be no additional funding for preparation beyond the $89 million announced for the RQF.

 

Research @ JCU Submission of Recommendations for the draft Journal Ranking List Ten points we currently know about ERA A New ERA for Australian Research Quality Assessment (04/03/08) Snippet of Kim Carr's speech at Universities Australia (12/03/08)