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education links Evaluation of the Knowledge and Innovation ReformsCommissioned by the Minister for Education, Science and TrainingReviewing Australia’s Block Research Funding SchemesBackgroundOn 13 May 2003 the Minister for Education, Science and Training the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP released Backing Australia’s Future, a ten year plan to create a diverse, equitable and high quality higher education sector for Australia’s future. As part of this initiative a number of reviews were to be undertaken into key areas to assess their effectiveness. The research sector is one of the areas in the reform package that is to be assessed in terms of evaluating and streamlining current arrangements. This assessment includes a number of initiatives:
The evaluation of Knowledge and Innovation will address the key issues for reform initiated in the 1999 Knowledge and Innovation: A policy statement on research and research training.
Terms of ReferenceObjectiveThe evaluation is designed to ensure that the policy and funding framework for Australia’s block research funding schemes are effective, and efficiently managed. The evaluation will focus particularly on the operation of the Research Training Scheme (RTS), the Institutional Grants Scheme (IGS), and the Research Infrastructure Block Grants Scheme (RIBG). ScopeThe evaluation will assess the effectiveness of the reforms in addressing the goals set out in Knowledge and Innovation, namely the achievement of:
Effectiveness will be reviewed with reference to the key principles of public funding adopted in Knowledge and Innovation, namely:
The evaluation will also address the efficiency of the existing administrative arrangements and the performance of research and research training programmes introduced through Knowledge and Innovation. With respect to the RTS, IGS and RIBG schemes, the evaluation will assess the validity of current research performance indicators, their weightings in the performance formulae, their effect on particular disciplines, universities and student groups, and the effectiveness and impact of the current transition arrangements. In particular, the following Knowledge and Innovation reforms will be addressed:
The Evaluation TeamThe evaluation team will consist of an Internal Policy Group (IPG) drawn from a number of senior executives of Government Departments. The IPG will be assisted by a five member External Reference Group (ERG) in the scoping and consultation process. Management of the evaluationThe IPG, led by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), will manage the evaluation, which will be convened by the Manager, Innovation and Research Branch, Higher Education Group. An Issues Paper will be prepared by the IPG, and cleared by the ERG, for circulation in early August 2003. This paper will canvas key issues for the evaluation inviting submissions from interested parties. This paper will also identify the key questions to be addressed through public consultations. The evaluation will culminate with a Consultation Report to Government in October 2003. External Reference GroupAs part of the review process, Dr Brendan Nelson has invited a number of key stakeholder organisations to nominate a representative to the External Reference Group (ERG). The ERG is not a decision making body; rather the ERG will draw on the particular expertise and experience of key stakeholders on specific issues raised during the review. The ERG will consist of: Professor Chris Fell (Chair), President of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS); Formerly Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & International); Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of New South Wales. Professor Fell was a co-inventor of the technology that led to the Australian international membrane company, Memtec Ltd and founding Chair of the Cooperative Research Centre for Waste Management and Pollution Control. His areas of Interest: Chemical engineering, research and development, government organisations and institutions, environmental science and technology (physical). Professor Kerry Cox, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ballarat. Professor Cox has extensive experience in both Australia and overseas as a scientist, an academic and a senior university administrator. He was educated at schools in Nathalia, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, University of Melbourne and the University of Western Australia. His areas of recent particular interest include regional and rural communities; technological and sociological change; global change; organisational change and technology transfer. Mr Greg Harper, Deputy Chief Executive Officer with the Australian Research Council (ARC). Mr Harper has broad business financial management experience in the public sector at both the national and state government level. Mr Harper holds a B.Sc. (majoring in biochemistry and genetics, honours in molecular genetics) and M.Sc (molecular genetics) degrees from the University of Sydney. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of CPA Australia. Professor Deryck M Schreuder, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Western Australia, and President of the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC). Professor Schreuder was also the AVCC’s chair of the Standing Committee on Research and served on and chaired a wide range of Australian Research Council committees and panels. He is a member of the Business Higher Education Round Table. Professor Schreuder is a scholar of modern international history and author of many books. He has a special interest in colonial and post-colonial societies, as well as in modern educational policy. Professor Richard Oliver, Director of the Australian Centre for Necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens and Professor of Molecular Plant Pathology, School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Perth. Professor Oliver is a leading international molecular biologist who has worked in the University, Research Institute and Industry sectors in the UK and Denmark and has been at Murdoch since 2002. His current interests involve the molecular biology of fungal diseases of plants. Evaluation processWe welcome participation in this evaluation from persons and organisations wishing to express views on the issues presented for discussion during the review. OutcomesThe evaluation of Knowledge and Innovation reforms will enable the Commonwealth to monitor progress to date, make adjustments where necessary and ensure that any future changes to Government research policy are informed by an analysis of the evaluation’s findings. It is envisaged that a Consultation Report will be produced from the information provided in the submissions and public consultations. This report will be delivered to Government in October 2003. Key milestones
Relations with other Higher Education Review initiativesClose linkages will be maintained with other research related reviews announced in Backing Australia’s Future, eg.
ConsultationsThe consultation process will be extensive. To progress discussion, a series of short stakeholder workshops will be run through August and September, in the following major capital cities: Sydney; Melbourne; Brisbane; Adelaide; Perth; and Canberra. Stakeholder WorkshopsIf you wish to participate in one of the above workshops we need you to register your interest as soon as possible. *Note: Copies of the Issues PaperThe Minister has released an Issues Paper outlining the key issues to be addressed during the course of the evaluation. Submissions are invited to address the key issues outlined in the paper (see Submissions below). Copies of the Issues Paper can be downloaded in either PDF or RTF format below. *Note: SubmissionsSubmissions to the evaluation of Knowledge and Innovation have now closed.
Performance Funding DataTo assist stakeholders in producing their submissions, DEST and the External Reference Group have made the raw performance funding data (in Excel spread sheets) for all research and research training funding available to stakeholders. This will enable stakeholders to separately examine and model funding formulae for the entire research competitive block funding schemes. The spread sheets contains a brief explanation at the beginning on how and what they operate. To access this data click on the link below. Research collaboration in universitiesUniversities have detailed the various levels of research collaboration activity undertaken in each institution both nationally and internationally with industry partners, research agencies and other universities. Excerpts from each institution’s Research and Research Training Management Reports (RRTMPs) on collaboration can be accessed in the attached document below. Contacts for further informationIf you have any queries regarding the Knowledge and Innovation evaluation you can contact the Secretariat by the following e-mail or telephone details: The Department of Education, Science and Training on: (02) 6240 8350 General enquiries about publications should be emailed to: K_Ireforms@dest.gov.au Follow this link for information on the 1999 policy statement: Knowledge and Innovation: A policy statement on research and research training. The policy statement, Our Universities: Backing Australia’s Future, and
detailed Fact Sheets are available at:
www.backingaustraliasfuture.gov.au
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