Association of University Staff
Media Release
Attn Education Reporter 2 March 2008
PBRF review provides major opportunity to fix problems, say university staff
The Association of University Staff (AUS) has welcomed a review of the Performance-Based Research Fund, currently being
undertaken by international expert and involving extensive consultation across the tertiary education sector, saying
that it is an excellent opportunity to put right major flaws in the PBRF's operation
The review of the PBRF, being carried out by Dr Jonathan Adams from the United Kingdom, is intended to examine the PBRF
process and, in particular, the experience of staff involved in preparing evidence portfolios on which research
performance assessments are made. The PBRF provides $230 million annually in research funding
AUS National President, Associate Professor Maureen Montgomery, said the review would look at problems that had arisen
with the PBRF and how they might best be resolved. She said that current assessment and reporting models used for the
PBRF are inappropriate, and the improper use of individual PBRF ratings in staff performance appraisals not only creates
anger and disillusionment among academic staff, but also compromises the integrity of staff development procedures
already in place.
“AUS has always rejected the individual unit of assessment as the basis for the PBRF model and, equally, has
consistently opposed the reporting of results at that individual level,” said Associate Professor Montgomery. “Such is
the depth of feeling about these flaws that the possibility of a boycott of future rounds of the PBRF by union members
was raised at the recent AUS Annual Conference.”
The AUS will also be offering the reviewer alternative models for assisting with the distribution of PBRF funding. These
will not include a so-called metrics-based measurement system that uses citation indices and impact analyses.
Associate Professor Montgomery also said that the AUS would also bring to the attention of the review the movement away
from PBRF-style models internationally.
ENDS