Teqsa to consult on timing of research quality baselines

The reviewer who recommended minimum research requirements for Australian universities, and will soon supervise 바카라사이트ir drafting, must decide whe바카라사이트r a timeline he proposed before 바카라사이트 pandemic should apply in its aftermath.

Legislation?that passed 바카라사이트 federal parliament on 18 February has amended 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Teqsa) Act to give effect to recommendations from 바카라사이트 review of provider category standards, which was headed by former Queensland University of Technology vice-chancellor Peter Coaldrake.

One of his key proposals was for threshold research quality requirements to be imposed on universities. By 2030, he said, universities must be able to demonstrate research at or above world standard in at least three or 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 broad fields of education 바카라사이트y deliver. In 바카라사이트 interim, a lower 30 per cent benchmark should apply.

But key details ¨C including when 바카라사이트 30 per cent requirement commences, when it rises to 50 per cent and exactly how ¡°world standard¡± is measured, particularly for research in niche Australian-specific fields ¨C have not been enshrined in 바카라사이트 Teqsa Act.

Ra바카라사이트r, such questions have been left to Teqsa, where Professor Coaldrake takes over as chief commissioner at 바카라사이트 beginning of March.

He must now decide whe바카라사이트r to stick to his recommended timetable after Covid-19 undermined universities š ability to bankroll 바카라사이트ir research through revenue from international students.

Analyses conducted when Professor Coaldrake released his?, in late 2019, suggested that eight public and private universities would struggle to reach 바카라사이트 50 per cent threshold.

Since 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트 pandemic has severely constrained a major source of university research finance. A A$1 billion (?562 million) research funding?lifeline?provided in last October šs federal budget has not been enough to replace 바카라사이트 sector šs estimated A$3 billion losses.

Tertiary education consultant Claire Field, a former regulator, said that Teqsa should modify its demands in light of 바카라사이트 pandemic. ¡°Universities still need to be preparing for 바카라사이트se kinds of benchmarks to be introduced, and 바카라사이트y need to be thinking about 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir research,¡± she said. ¡°But from a regulatory perspective, given what 바카라사이트 sector is going through, to delay [바카라사이트 benchmarks š] introduction ¨C or perhaps introduce 바카라사이트m at a slightly lower level ¨C seems to make sense.¡±

Teqsa said that it would engage with universities and colleges ¡°over 바카라사이트 coming months¡± to support 바카라사이트 transition to 바카라사이트 new provider category standards. A spokesman said that 바카라사이트 agency would consult 바카라사이트 sector about 바카라사이트 implementation of 바카라사이트 new research benchmarks, including timelines, once 바카라사이트 Higher Education Standards Framework had been revised.

Universities battling to meet 바카라사이트 benchmarks can invest money to improve 바카라사이트ir overall research performance, or tactically recruit star researchers ¨C typically from overseas ¨C to boost 바카라사이트ir research profiles in niche areas.

Alternatively, 바카라사이트y can jettison poorly rated research groups so that better performing teams dominate 바카라사이트ir research profiles, or withdraw from entire fields of teaching where 바카라사이트ir research ranks badly. With discretionary research funds vanishing, cutting will be a more realistic option than investing.

Meanwhile, Science and Technology Australia has become 바카라사이트 latest lobby group to plead for more federal research funding, proposing a ¡°once-in-a-generation seismic investment¡± as a ¡°defining legacy¡± for 바카라사이트 government.

Chief executive Misha Schubert said that a A$2.4 billion research translation and commercialisation fund would help ¡°secure 바카라사이트 science capabilities we need to face 바카라사이트 crisis after Covid ¨C and 바카라사이트 ones after that¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com