{"id":58727,"date":"2021-08-16T08:00:17","date_gmt":"2021-08-16T12:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=58727"},"modified":"2021-08-15T20:05:36","modified_gmt":"2021-08-16T00:05:36","slug":"where-is-the-evidence-for-era-times-up-for-australias-research-evaluation-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/where-is-the-evidence-for-era-times-up-for-australias-research-evaluation-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Where is the evidence for ERA? Time\u2019s up for Australia\u2019s research evaluation system"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Research at Australian universities has been scrutinised through the Australian Research Council\u2019s (ARC) assessment exercise,\u00a0Excellence in Research for Australia<\/a>, since 2010.<\/p>\n

A companion\u00a0Engagement and Impact Assessment<\/a>\u00a0exercise began in 2018. The\u00a0time and costs for universities<\/a>\u00a0of running these exercises (the ARC collected this information when ERA began but never released it) and the value they generate for universities, government, industry and the public are unknown.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s difficult to see how any future versions can be justified without evidence of a healthy return on investment.<\/p>\n

The question of future assessment exercises is now in the spotlight. The ARC recently completed a\u00a0review of ERA and EIA<\/a>\u00a0to \u201censure the national research assessments address Australia\u2019s future needs\u201d.<\/p>\n

The review\u2019s\u00a0terms of reference<\/a>\u00a0included consideration of \u201cthe purpose and value of research evaluation, including how it can further contribute to the Government\u2019s science, research and innovation agendas\u201d. This is important, as no evidence has ever been provided of exactly how the government, industry or community uses assessments for informing agendas.<\/p>\n

The review received\u00a0112 submissions<\/a>\u00a0in response to a\u00a0consultation paper<\/a>. Most came from universities, peak bodies\/associations and various service providers and consultants. No responses were received from the sectors that supposedly benefit from these exercises, namely government, industry and the community.<\/p>\n

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Review by expert committee of ERA assessment methods (Research Excellence in Australia) shows how intensely problematic the process is – yet the committee proposed no solutions to fix it<\/p>\n

https:\/\/t.co\/874ckwVEsJ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Prof Deborah Lupton (@DALupton) July 28, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n