Universities to prove real-world impact of research

The Conversation 01 December 2017

Starting in 2018, Australian universities will be required to prove their research provides concrete benefits for taxpayers and the government, who fund it, writes Pauline Zardo for The Conversation.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham recently announced the Australian Research Council will introduce an Engagement and Impact Assessment. It will run alongside the current Excellence in Research for Australia or ERA assessment exercise. This follows a pilot of the Engagement and Impact Assessment, run in 2017.

Until now, research performance assessment has mostly been focused on the number of publications, citations and competitive grants won. This new metric changes the focus from inputs and outputs to outcomes. This is part of a continuing shift from quantity to quality, which began in earlier iterations of the ERA. The Engagement and Impact Assessment reflects a significant change in thinking about the types of research impact we value and why.
Full report on The Conversation site

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