On 30 April, we published the interim results of the 2018 Quality Evaluation, a major component of the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF). The Quality Evaluation equates to approximately 55 percent of the PBRF, totalling over $1 billion for a six-year period.

Established in 2002, the PBRF reflects the government’s commitment to high-quality research that contributes to the social and economic wellbeing of New Zealanders.

We have seen an increase in research quality across the tertiary education sector across the four Quality Evaluation rounds (2003, 2006, 2012 and 2018). The 2018 Quality Evaluation continued this trend with over half of the researcher portfolios submitted awarded an A or B quality category, the two highest categories possible. Compared with the 2012 Quality Evaluation, the number of As awarded increased by nearly 40 percent and the number of Bs increased by 17.5 percent.

The 2018 Quality Evaluation also saw greater gender parity, with women making up nearly 43 percent of researchers whose evidence portfolios were awarded funded quality categories up from nearly 39 percent in 2012.

Tertiary education organisation (TEO) participation increased by one-third, from 27 in 2012 to 36 in 2018, highlighting emerging research cultures across several non-university TEOs.

For the 2018 Quality Evaluation we have released a report on the interim results, as well as a number of online resources to show the research environment of the tertiary education sector. The resources include sector infographics and a visualisation tool to see the breadth and reach of New Zealand’s tertiary education research.

For more information, see the PBRF 2018 Quality Evaluation interim results.

Next steps

Following the conclusion of the complaints process for participating TEOs, we will publish the final results of the 2018 Quality Evaluation and confirmed funding allocations later this year.

The Ministry of Education has announced a periodic review of the PBRF that is scheduled to begin following the completion of the 2018 Quality Evaluation.

You can learn more about the review on the Ministry of Education’s website.