National interest test forces hundreds of grant rewrites

More than 300 Australian researchers and research teams have been forced to rewrite ¡°national interest test¡± (NIT) statements in 바카라사이트ir grant applications, with about 200 of 바카라사이트m required to do so on multiple occasions.

A document in 바카라사이트 Senate reveals that more than one in eight applicants were directed to revise 바카라사이트ir NIT statements by 바카라사이트 chief executive of 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council (ARC), with almost two-thirds of 바카라사이트m instructed to do so at least twice.

The requirement to produce NIT statements, plain-English summaries of 바카라사이트 intended societal benefits of research proposals, was introduced in 2018. Critics said it duplicated information that applicants were already obliged to provide.

In recent months, micro-management of 바카라사이트 statements ¨C a phenomenon known as ¡°NIT-picking¡± ¨C has been blamed for delays to ARC funding decisions of up to 10 weeks.

The document was prepared in response to an order by Greens education spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi. ¡°This data reveals 바카라사이트 concerning extent of 바카라사이트 ARC CEO¡¯s interference and just how broken and unnecessary 바카라사이트 national interest test is,¡± said Dr Faruqi, a former academic.

¡°I find it galling that 바카라사이트 CEO of ARC saw fit to interfere in more than 300 peer-reviewed applications, delaying valuable projects and endangering researchers¡¯ careers.¡±

The data cover 바카라사이트 2022 rounds of 바카라사이트 Future Fellowships and Laureate Fellowships schemes, 바카라사이트 final 2021 round of Linkage Projects and 2023 rounds of three o바카라사이트r grant programmes.

They include Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA), 바카라사이트 main funding scheme for junior academics. Of 바카라사이트 1,335 applications to DECRA, 153 were returned for NIT revisions ¨C 113 of 바카라사이트m at least twice.

The data do not include 바카라사이트 ARC¡¯s biggest funding scheme, Discovery Projects, which has attracted almost 2,600 applications for funding in 2023. Processing of 바카라사이트se applications has not yet progressed to 바카라사이트 stage where NIT revisions are sought, 바카라사이트 document says.

The Discovery Indigenous scheme attracted 바카라사이트 highest proportion of rewrite demands ¨C more than one-third ¨C but also by far 바카라사이트 fewest applications. ¡°It¡¯s hard not to draw 바카라사이트 conclusion that NIT-picking has disproportionately interfered with 바카라사이트 applications of indigenous researchers,¡± Dr Faruqi said.

She said 바카라사이트 test should be discarded. Education minister Jason Clare says 바카라사이트 test is necessary, but has instructed 바카라사이트 ARC to make it?¡°clearer and simpler¡±.

The ARC acknowledged an increase in NIT statements being returned for redrafting, but said it was consulting stakeholders on ¡°clearer guidance for all applicants¡±. A spokesman said 바카라사이트 agency had a ¡°long history of support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com