The publication of these in principle decisions, which are now on the TEC website, represents a significant milestone towards delivering the Guidelines for Quality Evaluation 2025. Reflecting on the process, Gillian Dudgeon, DCE Delivery, said: ‘I am delighted to be able to confirm these in principle decisions, which I know will give the sector greater certainty. I would like to recognise the mahi of the SRG in developing recommendations which recognise and deliver on the spirit of Cabinet’s changes to the PBRF’.

The SRG’s recommendations were made following consultation across the sector, including public consultation processes and hui aimed at ensuring the views of the Māori and Pacific research communities in particular were heard. SRG Co-chairs Professor Wiremu Doherty (Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa) and Professor Wendy Larner said: ‘We are very pleased that the TEC has agreed the recommendations of the SRG. In developing the changes recommended, the SRG worked carefully to deliver Cabinet’s directions to develop a more inclusive PBRF definition of research, reflect the new PBRF principles of Partnership, Equity, and Inclusiveness,  honour the TEC’s obligations to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori-Crown partnership, and to seek solutions that reflected what the sector told us.’

These in principle decisions will inform the SRG’s recommendations on the remaining issues it will consider and will be reflected in the Quality Evaluation 2025 Guidelines. The in principle decisions, along with summaries of the consultation feedback received, have now been published on the TEC website.

In order to support the sector in understanding the changes to EP design in particular, the TEC will publish detailed draft guidance on the new EP submission requirements in the second half of 2022.

The SRG is operating between September 2021 and the publication of the final Quality Evaluation 2025 Guidelines in June 2023. Information on the 2025 Quality Evaluation and the SRG is available on the TEC website.