News & Views item - August 2005

 

 

The Wheels of the Expert Advisory Group for the Research Quality Framework Grind Slowly but How Fine? (August 10, 2005)

    In a July 16 opinion piece "Change can Equal Progress or Regression" the point was made that there was no compelling data that the UK's Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) per se was responsible for improvements in British research prowess and during a two-day forum held in Canberra in June it became increasing clear that much needed to be done to determine the parameters required to assess what was needed to determine a viable research quality framework (RQF) for Australia.

 

The president of the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee, Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor Di Yurburry, summed matter up simply pointing out,

On the issue of timing we very much agree with [the Chairman of the Expert Advisory Group] Sir Gareth [Roberts] that we should take more time to work through the implementation, the trialing, and what we learn from the trialing of this [RQF] exercise. It is more important to get it done right than to get it done quickly. As the Minister said, the implications of the RQF are very significant, and will reach out far into the future. Don't let's put the exercise at risk by rushing it.

Now The Australian's Dorothy Illing reports that the Expert Advisory Group won't be ready to inform the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Brendan Nelson, of its preferred model for the RQF for the "next couple of months". Apparently the EAG are as yet unable to find a compromise on how to determine research "quality and impact" and according to Ms Illing, "One aca of little faith reckons the indicators will end up being anything you want to describe, including the 'impact on the Biloela branch of the CWA'".

 

The matter might be of some consequence were there an indication that Dr Nelson had an interest in improving Australia's universities and research capabilities. Judging by his impact on the sectors to date that seems implausible.

 

 


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