The RQF at UWA April 2007 RQF UWA

The RQF at UWA April 2007

RQF @ UWA • Announced by Minister Bishop December 2006 • New system to assess research quality • Distribute research block grant funding • Based on the UK RAE process

RQF @ UWA • No promise of new money • Full details and rules unknown • Key Document The Recommended RQF (October 2006) http: //www. dest. gov. au/research/rqf

RQF @ UWA Eligible Staff: Teaching and Research only Employed 40% or more Level B and above Competitive grant funded research fellows (ARC Postdocs – Level A – may be assessed)

RQF @ UWA Possibly included (not yet decided): • Adjuncts, Honorary, plus • less than 0. 4 appointments May be assessed (included on complete list of publications? – context statements? ) May be assessed for quality BUT not for funding

RQF @ UWA Eligible staff: • Must have 4 research outputs to assess • BUT may be less for Early Career Researchers (between 2 and 4)

RQF @ UWA Key Dates Assessment Period 2001 to 2006 Staff Census Date 31 March 2007 (plus service period rules) Submission date 30 April 2008

RQF @ UWA Submissions Work will be submitted, assessed and reported via RFCD codes (research fields, courses and disciplines) Individuals will not be assessed Results will not be published for individuals Scores published for Universities

RQF @ UWA Submissions • Not by individuals but by research groups • University determined groups • Based on RFCD codes and directed to (13) assessment panels • Submit Evidence Portfolios

RQF @ UWA Evidence Portfolios • 4 best research outputs person • Full list of publications • Context statements (evidence of research quality) • 10 page impact statement per group Plus institution list of submitted vs eligible staff

RQF @ UWA Quality Assessment • Expert review – not quite peer review • Holistic view of a group’s work • May have some expert peer advice

RQF @ UWA • 1. Biological sciences • RFCD 2701 -2799 • Biochemistry and cell biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Botany, Zoology, Physiology, Ecology & evolution, Biotechnology, Other biological sciences

RQF @ UWA • 6. Clinical sciences and clinical physiology • RFCD 3201 -3206, 3208 -3210(less 321021), 321204 • Medicine – general, Immunology, Medical biochemistry & clinical chemistry, Medical microbiology, Pharmacology & pharmaceutical sciences, Medical physiology, Dentistry, Optometry, Clinical sciences (exc. Psychiatry), Mental health

RQF@UWA • • TABLE 1: THE RATING SCALE FOR RESEARCH QUALITY Rating Descriptor 5 Research that is world leading in its field or makes an equally exceptional contribution in an area of particular significance to Australia. 4 Research that meets world standards of excellence in its field or makes an equally excellent contribution in an area of particular significance to Australia. 3 Research that is recognised internationally as excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour but which nonetheless falls short of the highest standards of excellence. 2 Research that is recognised as methodologically sound in its field and of high originality, significance and rigour. 1 Research that is deemed to fall below the standard of recognised quality work.

RQF@UWA Impact Assessment “Research impact is defined as the social, economic, environmental and/or cultural benefits of research” • 10 page submission (verifiable evidence) • 4 case studies • End users to contact for references • Must have a quality rating of 2 to be assessed

RQF @ UWA TABLE 2: THE RATING SCALE FOR RESEARCH IMPACT Rating Description • A Adoption of the research has produced an outstanding social, economic, environmental and/or cultural benefit for the wider community, regionally within Australia, nationally or internationally. • B Adoption of the research has produced a significant social, economic environmental and/or cultural benefit for the wider community, regionally within Australia, nationally or internationally. • C Research has been adopted to produce new policies, products, attitudes, behaviours and/or outlooks in the end user community. • D Research has engaged with the end user community to address a social, economic, environmental and/or cultural issue regionally within Australia, nationally or internationally. • E Research has had limited or no identifiable social, economic, environmental and/or cultural outcome, regionally within Australia, nationally or internationally.

RQF @ UWA The UWA Approach • Internal Research Quality Assessment process • Helped us learn about the issues for managing and interpreting ratings for research quality

RQF @ UWA The UWA Approach • Socrates as an RQF tool • https: //socrates. uwa. edu. au • Log-on staff ID plus password • Collects data from many university systems and presents it in a set of different views on research performance

RQF @ UWA The UWA approach Socrates: • Grants • Publications • Note CV function • Socratic Index

RQF @ UWA Socrates Citation data (incomplete): • journal impact factor, • number of citations • Expected versus actual citations • Can help with selecting 4 best publications

RQF @ UWA • Top down vs bottom up • Minimise unproductive work • Identify research groups (university structure of disciplines) • Mostly school based but some centres • Identify whose work falls in to which group • Who is assessed and who is not

RQF @ UWA • Identify a key person per group • Draft up group statements • Context and impact statements • Internal review • Write, revise, review and rewrite

RQF @ UWA Timeline February - April 2007: • talk to schools • Identify groups (and rfcd codes) • Identify key person

RQF @ UWA April – May 2007 Draft context and impact statements May - November 2007 Review and redraft impact statements November- December 2007 Finalise selection of ‘research outputs’ to submit

RQF @ UWA Basic Assumptions • More assessed rather than less • UWA budget model unchanged • UWA Mission and strategic goal more important than transient DEST funding formulas

Assessment Panels with RFCD codes

RQF @ UWA • 1. Biological sciences • RFCD 2701 -2799 • Biochemistry and cell biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Botany, Zoology, Physiology, Ecology & evolution, Biotechnology, Other biological sciences

RQF @ UWA • 2. Physical, chemical and earth sciences • RFCD 2401 -2699 • Astronomical sciences, Theoretical & condensed matter physics, Atomic & molecular physics; Nuclear & particle physics; Plasma physics, Optical physics, Classical physics, Other physical sciences, Physical chemistry, Inorganic chemistry, Organic chemistry, Analytical chemistry, Macromolecular chemistry, Theoretical & computational chemistry, Other chemical sciences, Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Oceanography, Hydrology, Atmospheric sciences, Other earth sciences

RQF @ UWA • 3. Engineering and technology • RFCD 2902 -2999 • Aerospace engineering, Manufacturing engineering, Automotive engineering, Mechanical & industrial engineering, Chemical engineering, Resources engineering, Civil engineering, Electrical & electronic engineering, Geomantic engineering, Environmental engineering, Maritime engineering, Metallurgy, Materials engineering, Biomedical engineering, Computer hardware, Communications technologies, Interdisciplinary engineering, Other engineering &technology

RQF @ UWA • 4. Mathematical and information sciences and technology • RFCD 2301 -2399, 2801 -2899 • Mathematics, Statistics, Other mathematical sciences, Information systems, Artificial intelligence & signal & image processing, Computer software, Computation theory & mathematics, Data format, Other information, computing & communication sciences

RQF @ UWA • 5. Agricultural, veterinary, food and environmental sciences • RFCD 2901, 3001 -3099 • Industrial biotechnology & food sciences, Soil & water sciences, Crop & pasture production, Horticulture, Animal production, Veterinary sciences, Forestry sciences, Fisheries sciences, Environmental sciences, Land, parks & agricultural management, Other agricultural, veterinary & environmental sciences

RQF @ UWA • 7. Public health and health services • RFCD 3211 -3299 (less 321204) • Nursing, Public health & health services (exc. Mental health), Complementary/ alternative medicine, Human movement & sports science, Other medical & health sciences

RQF @ UWA • 8. Psychology, psychiatry, neurological, behavioural and cognitive sciences • RFCD 3207, 321021, 3802, 38033899 • Neurosciences, Psychology, Psychiatry, Cognitive science, Other behavioural & cognitive sciences & Linguistics.

RQF @ UWA • 9. Social sciences and politics • RFCD 3601 -3705 (less 3702) • Political science, Policy & administration, Other policy & political science, Sociology, Anthropology, Human geography, Demography

RQF @ UWA • 10. Economics, commerce and management • RFCD 3401 -3599 • Economic theory, Applied economics, Economic history & history of economic thought, Econometrics, Other economics, Accounting, auditing & accountability, Business and management, Banking, finance and investment, Transportation, Tourism, Services, Other commerce, management, tourism and services.

RQF @ UWA • 11. Law, Education and Professional Practices • RFCD 3301 -3399, 3901 -4099, 3702 • Education studies, Curriculum studies, Professional development of teachers, Other education, Journalism, communication and media, Librarianship, Curatorial studies, Social work, Other journalism, librarianship & curatorial studies, Law, Professional development of practitioners, Justice & legal studies, Law enforcement, Other law, justice, law enforcement

RQF @ UWA • 12. Humanities • RFCD 3706 -3799, 419901, 4201 -4499 • History & philosophy of science & medicine, Other studies in human society, Art History and appreciation, Language studies, Literature studies, Cultural studies, Other language & culture, Historical studies, Archaeology & prehistory, Other history & archaeology, Philosophy, Religion & religious traditions, Other philosophy & religion

RQF @ UWA • 13. Creative arts, design and built environment • RFCD 3101 -3199, 4101 -4199 (less 419901) • Architecture and urban environment, building, Other architecture, urban environment and building, Performing arts, Visual arts & crafts, Cinema, electronic arts & multimedia, Design studies, Other arts (exc. Art history & appreciation)