Policy drivers in Australian higher education research NSCF September 7, 2015 Dr Tim Cahill Research Strategies Australia

Introduction of the Research Quantum – Composite Research Index Linda Butler, “Explaining Australia’s increased share of ISI publications—the effects of a funding formula based on publication counts”. Research Policy 32 (2003) 143–155.

Introduction of the Research Quantum – Composite Research Index Linda Butler, “Explaining Australia’s increased share of ISI publications—the effects of a funding formula based on publication counts”. Research Policy 32 (2003) 143–155. Australia’s share of publications in the Science Citation Index (SCI) increased 25% Share of citations increased 33% Relative Citation Impact (RCI) remained steady In other words, while the number of publications and number of citations increased, the citation rate did not

Introduction of the Research Quantum – Composite Research Index Linda Butler, “Explaining Australia’s increased share of ISI publications—the effects of a funding formula based on publication counts”. Research Policy 32 (2003) 143–155.

Introduction of the Research Quantum – Composite Research Index Linda Butler, “Explaining Australia’s increased share of ISI publications—the effects of a funding formula based on publication counts”. Research Policy 32 (2003) 143–155. The Actual/Expected citation rate remained more or less around 1.0 throughout the period The Relative Journal Impact decreased “Even though […] Australia’s publications were attracting at or above the expected citation rate for its journals, Australia’s relative citation performance continued to slide because the journals which carried its articles were of lower impact”

THE IMPORTANCE OF ERA IN INFLUENCING RESEARCH QUALITY Acil Allen Consulting “Benefits Realisation Review of Excellence in Research for Australia.” 2013

THE IMPORTANCE OF ERA IN INFLUENCING RESEARCH QUALITY Acil Allen Consulting “Benefits Realisation Review of Excellence in Research for Australia.” 2013 “ERA has resulted in researchers focusing on quality in contrast to the longstanding quantity driver that metrics based funding had encouraged.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF ERA IN INFLUENCING RESEARCH QUALITY Acil Allen Consulting “Benefits Realisation Review of Excellence in Research for Australia.” 2013 “Academic staff are now more selective about journals in which they publish - targeting specific, higher quality journals.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF ERA IN INFLUENCING RESEARCH QUALITY Acil Allen Consulting “Benefits Realisation Review of Excellence in Research for Australia.” 2013 “ERA has enhanced the recognition of quality outputs as opposed to quantity.”

What are the drivers?

What’s next…? In 2010 HERD, ‘Applied Research’ overtook ‘Pure Basic’ and ‘Strategic Basic’ research for the first time (ABS)

2013 RBG income profile ‘Applied income’ sources are larger than ‘basic income’ sources: Category 1 – ACGR income Category 2 – Other public sector income Category 3 – Industry income Category 4 – CRC income ( ata-used-research-block- grant-rbg-funding- formulae) ata-used-research-block- grant-rbg-funding- formulae

Funding inputs The policy settings in Australian universities are still living in the paradigm of Category 1 peer reviewed grants even though the actual research paradigm has shifted. (Chart extracted from ‘Review of Research Policy and Funding Arrangements for Higher Education Issues Paper’ s/doc/other/issues_paper_- _review_of_funding_policy.pdf) s/doc/other/issues_paper_- _review_of_funding_policy.pdf

Contribution of data types to RIBG, SRE and JRE ‘Applied income’ accounts for 53% of income, but only drives 27% of research funding (not including training) ‘Category 1’ income accounts for 47% of income and drives 55% of research funding (not including training) Dual funding system, so grants are also counted twice

Some options for addressing the issue Government funded HERD, 2011 (OECD)

Some options for addressing the issue Researchers employed by sector, 2011 (OECD)

Some options for addressing the issue Direct Government funding of business R&D, 2011 (OECD)

Some options for addressing the issue Direct Government funding of business R&D vs tax incentives, 2011 (OECD)

The challenge “What we still need is a way of changing the institutions in a democratic direction – a long-term vision for public universities, and a practical agenda for the near future. I think the discussion has to deal with three sets of problems. First, what will a more democratic university look like as an organization? […] Second, considering the university as a knowledge institution, what kinds of knowledge will be created and taught? […] Third, what are better ways of linking Australian universities to the wider society?” - Raewyn Connell (FASS), University of Sydney ( australian-universities) australian-universities

How will the sector react? “The actions of ‘street-level’ public servants actually help create policy in their specific areas, whether those people recognise it or not. So there is a choice. Academics grudgingly ticking boxes will have some influence on policy, but probably not the desired one. We can do better than that. By acknowledging that higher education policy is something we help to create, rather than something that is wholly done to us, we can start to make a difference.” - John Turpenny, University of East Anglia ( differently-embracing-the-politics-of-higher-education/) differently-embracing-the-politics-of-higher-education/

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