Download (.pdf) On Quality and Standards in Research Training
by Nigel Palmer
Palmer, N. (2011). On Quality and Standards in Research Training. Melbourne, Australia: Centre for the Study of Higher Education.
An edited version of this paper first appeared in The Australian online Friday November 18th, 2011.
In October 2011 the Australian Government released Defining Quality, a consultation paper focussing on quality aspects... more
In October 2011 the Australian Government released Defining Quality, a consultation paper focussing on quality aspects around research training. The paper addresses the quality of the physical and intellectual environment, the flexibility and ‘fit’ of the scheme and its broader fitness for purpose in supporting research education. A second paper, due for release in June 2012, is set to address technical aspects of the scheme, including options for how results from the Federal Government’s research quality measurement exercise, the Excellence in Research for Australia Initiative (ERA), may influence funding allocations under the RTS scheme. While addressing different issues, the two papers are related. Funding formulae are typically associated with measures of performance, and those in turn are taken as measures of quality. Conceptions of what constitutes quality are therefore likely to inform the indicator mix which will eventually determine the distribution of federally funded places and possibly also scholarships from 2013. Before jumping to conclusions regarding the prospect that ERA may determine the allocation of federally funded research higher degree places or scholarships, it is important to be clear on three very important points:
1. Firstly that quality and performance are not the same;
2. Secondly that ERA currently measures neither when it comes to research training;
3. Thirdly there are existing dimensions and characteristics associated with a quality research training environment (as outlined in Appendix I); and
4. Finally, the possibility of identifying an activity or characteristic as either a threshold or a performance standard does not in itself mean that it should become one.
The Defining Quality consultation paper is the first part of a two-stage consultation process informing review of the Federal Government’s scheme for funding research education: the Research Training Scheme (RTS) (DIISR, 2011a). The RTS is the national tuition scheme for domestic places in research masters and PhD study, which alongside the Australian Postgraduate Award scheme is the principal support program for research education in Australia (DIISR, 2011c). Review of the RTS comes as part of the Federal Government’s Research Workforce Strategy (DIISR, 2011b). The Defining Quality consultation paper is well prepared and development of the Strategy has been an example of best practice in public policy development. However, this initiative is due to intersect with two other Federal Government initiatives: the Excellence in Research for Australia Initiative (ERA) and the formation of the new Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) (ARC, 2011; Australian Government, 2011b). This intersection will have important implications for the definition and measurement of quality and standards in research training in Australia, and for prospects for continued innovation and improvement in this area in the future.
The purpose of this paper is to highlight some important considerations in the intersection between the RTS, ERA and the implementation of the proposed Standards Framework under the new Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). It also aims to inform discussion on the definition and measurement of aspects of a quality research education environment more broadly.
Call for consultant to conduct a scoping study on the organization of Quality Assurance in the Arab Region
by Mohamed Omar
The Arab Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ANQAHE) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental regional network that includes Arab Countries as full members or potential to be full members. . It has 10 full members and 5 associated member who constitute 72% of the Arab Countries. One of the main objectives is to build capacity at national and regional levels to help Arab Countries to establish, expand or improve their higher education quality assurance systems, to establish a mechanism of cooperation in the field of quality assurance in higher education; to initiate and sustain regional and international cooperation in quality assurance in higher education and to develop a system for capacity-building for QA bodies. The ANQAHE website is www.anqahe.org
Interested consultants should submit their applications electronically, including full Curricula Vitae (detailing... more
Interested consultants should submit their applications electronically, including full Curricula Vitae (detailing qualifications and work experience), work-plan and budget, either by fax (+2-2 25340343) or e-mail to the undersigned not later than two weeks from the date of this advertisement.
Please send your proposal to the following e mails:
The President of ANQAHE: Dr.Nadia Badrawi on nadia@badrawi.com
The Secretary General: Dr. Tariq Al-Sindi : on tariq.alsindi@qaa.edu.bh