ARC Applications: What Matters

Peter Fairbrother, Social, Behavioural and Economic Panel, College of Experts (ARC) and Centre for

Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University.

Date: Friday, 6 December 2013

RMIT University©

Schemes

1. Discovery – DP

2. Early Career Researcher – DECRA

3. Indigenous – IN

4. Linked - LP1

5. Fellowships – different ones

2012/13 Assessment

The 2012 SBE panel processed:

1.DP – 693

2.IN – 11

3.DECRA – 257

4.Future Fellows RMIT University©

SBE 2013:

1.Average number of readers = 32.Cross panel assessment more common3.Never moved out of the A/B range for allocations4.Increased recognition of ROPE – discussed and even voted on by panel.

RMIT University©

Overview 1: Participants – roles and activities

1. Panel members: allocate Readers

2. Readers – specialised and detailed

3. Readers – letter assessment

4. Panel members: moderate and rank

5. Panel Meeting: April and August – allocate

6. Panel members: feedback to ARC on procedure and process

RMIT University©

A

Outstanding: Of the highest quality and at the forefront of research in the field. Approximately 10% of Proposals should receive ratings in this band.

Recommended Unconditionally

B

Excellent: High quality research and a strongly competitive Proposal. Approximately 15% of Proposals should receive ratings in this band.

Strongly support recommendation of funding

C

Very Good: An interesting, sound and compelling Proposal. Approximately 20% of Proposals should receive rating in this band.

Support recommendation of funding with reservation

D

Good: A sound research Proposal, but lacks a compelling element. Approximately 35% of Proposals are likely to fall into this band.

Unsupportive of recommending for funding

E

Uncompetitive: The Proposal is uncompetitive and has significant weaknesses or more fatal flaws. Approximately 20% of Proposals are likely to fall into this band.

Not recommended for funding

Discovery/DECRA/IN Projects Selection Criteria

DP

a. Investigator(s) 40%

  

b. Project Quality and Innovation 25% 

c. Feasibility and Benefit 20% 

d. Research Environment 15%

RMIT University©

DECRA

a. 35%

  

b. 40% 

c. 10% 

d. 15%

IN

a. 35%

  

b. 40% 

c. 10% 

d. 15%

Project

Introduction

Aims and subject

Background

Significance and innovation,

Method (in the tightest and manageable way)

Timetable etc.

RMIT University©

Investigators

• DP = 40%

• DECRA = 35%

• IN = 35%

• LP = 20%

• Partners: Linkage

RMIT University©

Feasibility and Benefit

RMIT University©

DP = 20% , DECRA = 10% , IN = 10%

Feasibility

•Plan of work

•Budget – value

•Networks

Benefit

•Outcomes

•Intellectual gain

•Policy relevance/National priorities

Research Environment

RMIT University©

DP and IN = 15%, DECRA = 10%, IN = 10%

•Centre/School: intellectual activity/support

•Faculty: research focus/support

•University – mission and objectives

•Make a case that will be read

•Have others read.

Partners: Linkage

• Involve in approach and method

• History

• Evidence of actual involvement, consultation

• Outcome that is not consultancy

RMIT University©

Future Fellowships: 2013

• Distinguished and assessed according to level:

–FT1 147 applications – award 24 and 4 reserves

–FT2 109 applications – award 18 and 2 reserves

–FT3 53 applications – award 9 and 4 reserves

• ROPE explicitly taken into account in these assessments, by the panel members although not always by readers

RMIT University©

RMIT University©

FF

a. Candidate 40%

  

b. Project Quality and Innovation 35%

 

c. Strategic Alignment 15% 

d. Collaboration Outreach 10%

RMIT University©

1. Divide preparation into parts:

a. Investigator

b. Research Environment

c. Project

i. Feasibility and benefit for Discovery

ii. Details of links for Linkage

2. Give time to each one..

Procedures