Performance-Based Research Fund Peer Review Panels

Panel Members appointed to Performance-Based Research Fund Peer Review Panels

The full membership of the 12 peer review panels being established to support the implementation of the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) was announced today by Dr Andrew West, Chair of the Tertiary Education Commission. Attachment 1 is a list of peer review panel members and chairs.

Dr West extended congratulations to all panel members on behalf of the Tertiary Education Commission. “Commissioners are pleased that the panels comprise such high calibre academics and researchers. The role of the panels is to evaluate the quality of the research contributions of those involved in teaching degree-level programmes and/or undertaking research in tertiary education organisations. The peer review process will assess quality based on a variety of measures including research outputs, peer esteem factors and contribution to the development of new researchers and a vital high-quality research environment,” explained Dr West.

153 panel member appointments have been made and of these 45 are women, 16 are Mäori, three are Pacific Peoples, and 36 are from overseas. An Esteemed Group of Pasifika Researchers will be appointed in April.

Three quarters of panel members are from the New Zealand research community. The majority are from universities, although polytechnics, wananga, colleges of education and Crown Research Institutes, and the private sector have all provided panel members.

“The quality of the nominations for panel members was outstanding and the Commissioners wish to thank everybody who allowed their names to be put forward as part of the nominations process”, said Dr West.

Steve Maharey, Minister responsible for Tertiary Education Commission, welcomed the appointment of the peer review panel members and chairs and the contribution they will make to the achievement of higher-quality research across the sector, and better results for New Zealand. “While many people are working within the tertiary education system at the cutting edge of their fields, current funding and regulatory approaches do not adequately reveal, celebrate or reward them. The transition to the new research funding system will be managed in a way that protects existing strengths and allows providers to adjust to the new environment,” the Minister explained.

The overall aim of the PBRF is to promote the development of lively and productive research cultures producing high quality research, and attractive and effective learning environments for students. Research academics must also be actively engaged with relevant communities. The fund will also provide real incentives for tertiary organisations to attract and develop Maori and Pacific researchers.

The appointments of the 12 panel chairs and that of Professor Paul Callaghan, Alan MacDiarmid Professor of Physical Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington, to the role of Chair of the Moderation Panel for the peer review process were announced in February 2003

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