The Research Excellence Framework and the Stern Review – Implications for Australia’s Engagement and Impact Assessment Framework

Abstract

This article explores the advancement of a national research impact assessment framework for Australia. It focuses on the historical development of an Australian research impact agenda inspired by neoliberal ideologies, which began with the conservative Howard Government in the late 1990s and continues today. The article will also discuss the findings of the UK’s Independent Review of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) by Lord Nicholas Stern and how the Australian Government, in the development of a research engagement and impact assessment framework, could draw on and learn from the findings conveyed in this report. Finally, the article suggests ways forward for Australia as it approaches its 2017 research impact pilot and 2018 full research impact assessment alongside the 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA).