Researchers urged to join PBRF Panels

28 January 2005
Researchers urged to join PBRF Panels

Nominations are now open for Peer Review Panels to help steer the next Performance-Based Research Fund Quality Evaluation.

Twelve multidisciplinary Peer Review Panels will be established by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) to undertake the 2006 Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) Quality Evaluation.

Nominations are being called for suitably qualified people to serve as panel members. In addition, panel members from the 2003 Quality Evaluation will be invited to be considered for re-appointment.

“The primary goal of the PBRF is to ensure that excellent research in the tertiary education sector is encouraged and rewarded,” says TEC’s Acting General Manager Dr Colin Webb.

“This entails assessing the research performance of tertiary education organisations (TEOs) and then funding them on the basis of their performance.

“It is important to the success of the PBRF that we appoint people of the highest calibre to the Panels. The TEC encourages the nomination of people with substantial experience in peer review or research evaluation.”

Although the next Quality Evaluation won’t happen until 2006, the Peer Review panels will be established early this year to allow panel input into the revision of the panel-specific guidelines for the next round by 30 June 2005.

An announcement on the appointment of the panel Chairs will be made later in February.

The TEC recently announced that the 2006 PBRF Quality Evaluation would be held on a partial or semi-voluntary basis.

“We expect the partial round will result in substantially lower costs for all the participants and lessen the workload for the Peer Review Panels, while still providing an accurate picture of the quality of New Zealand TEOs’ research,” Dr Webb said.

Nominations close at 5pm on Friday, 4 March 2005 and full information is available in the PBRF section of the TEC’s website www.tec.govt.nz .
Further information

ENDS

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