Evaluation of Knowledge and Innovation Reforms Consultation Report

This report provides an assessment of the arrangements by which the government distributes block research funding to Australia’s universities. The evaluation focused on the operation of three university research funding mechanisms: the Research Training Scheme (RTS), the Institutional Grants Scheme (IGS) and the Research Infrastructure Block Grants Scheme (RIBG). It assesses the validity of current research performance indicators, and the extent to which they are driving enhanced connections between the university system and the private sector, strengthening the strategic management of research, and improving the quality of research training.

Findings indicate that the Knowledge and Innovation reforms, covering principles of excellence, institutional autonomy and responsiveness, student choice, linkage and collaboration, and transparency and accountability, are working well. The approach adopted under Knowledge and Innovation of making all research block funding provided to universities subject to performance formulae has had a positive impact. There have been improvements in universities’ strategic focus on research and in their research performance.

Recommendations include a need to strengthen drivers for excellence and linkage and collaboration within the current framework, to ensure greater responsiveness to the national innovation system; and funding for research in the higher education sector should be increased, particularly in the area of institutional research infrastructure.