Independent Review for Performance-Based Fund

Independent Expert Review for Performance-Based Research Fund

An independent expert review of the $230 million Performance-Based Research Fund for tertiary education organisations is getting underway next week.

The Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) is administered by the Tertiary Education Commission and rewards and encourages research excellence in tertiary education organisations.

Ongoing evaluation is important for testing, maintaining and enhancing the effectiveness and credibility of the fund, acting TEC Chief Executive Dr Colin Webb said today.

“The independent expert review underlines our commitment to the fund and the key role it plays in the tertiary education reforms as we continue to improve the quality of tertiary education and research,” he said.

The TEC has commissioned the expert independent review of the PBRF to be undertaken by Dr Jonathan Adams of Evidence Ltd; Leeds; United Kingdom. The Terms of Reference for this review have developed in consultation with the tertiary education sector.
The review will involve consultation with stakeholders across the sector, as well as an extensive literature and data review.

It is expected that the review will be completed by the end of June 2008.

About the PBRF
The PBRF was developed in close consultation with the tertiary education sector. The PBRF ensures that funding for research is more closely aligned to research excellence. This entails assessing the research performance of Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) and then funding them on the basis of their performance.

The PBRF has three elements – all measures of research excellence: the quality of research outputs and other contributions by individual tertiary education researchers (60% of the fund), research degree completions (25%) and external research income (15%).
The major element, the Quality Evaluation, is held periodically. The first was completed in 2003 and the second, a partial round, was held in 2006. The next full round is scheduled for 2012.

The PBRF contributes to the success of the Tertiary Education Strategy, supporting its goals of encouraging an integrated, specialised tertiary education sector, developing Maori and Pacific research capability and improving linkages with relevant communities.

ENDS

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