NiTRO + Creative Matters

Perspectives on creative arts in higher education

More transparency needed to back research excellence claims

A new paper by Emeritus Professor Frank Larkins questions whether Australian research performance, particularly in science disciplines, is really improving. Noting the lack of transparency in the benchmarks used to evaluate performance, Professor Larkins asks whether claims of excellence can really stand up to scrutiny.  His paper, Research at Australian Universities: Is Excellence Really Excellent? released through Melbourne University’s Centre for the Study of Higher Education, also discusses the contrast in results between science based disciplines and those in Social Sciences and Humanities. The full paper is available at: https://melbourne-cshe.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/3058221/2019_F-P-Larkins_ERA-Excellence.pdf

Other recent news

Other related news

Update: NCGP review

The ARC held an online consultation today on the Second Policy Review Discussion Paper on the National Competitive Grants Program for discipline Peak Bodies and Learned Academies. The DDCA was pleased to attend and represent the interests of its creative arts members. The ARC is clear in their desire to collaborate with the Peak Bodies […]

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DDCA response to the National Competitive Grants Program Policy Review

The Australian Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Arts (DDCA), Australia’s peak body for tertiary creative arts education and research, congratulates the Australian Research Council for the responsive changes proposed to the National Competitive Grants Program (Discussion Paper, February 2025). The implications of the changes for researchers in the creative arts are broadly positive. […]

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DDCA response to Creative Australia’s Venice Biennale decision

The Australian Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Arts (DDCA), Australia’s peak body for tertiary creative arts education and research, urges Creative Australia to reconsider its decision to rescind the presentation of Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino’s work in the 2026 Venice Biennale Australian pavilion. This decision to override a rigorous and internationally peer-reviewed process […]

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JOIN Australian Cultural Policy Research Association

Colleagues from a number of Australian Universities are proposing a fully-fledged national research association for those researching in the field of cultural policy in Australia. There is a need to reassemble research from across the disciplines of media and cultural studies, arts management, cultural and creative industries, digital humanities, artificial intelligence, creative labour studies, journalism […]

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Consultation open: ARC-Funded Research 

“The Australian Research Council (ARC) has released the Discussion Paper: A New Plan for ARC-Funded Research. The Minister for Education asked the ARC to work with the Department of Education to undertake a Policy Review of the National Competitive Grants Program. The Discussion Paper has been developed following extensive public consultations undertaken with stakeholders in 2024.  […]

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Be an ARC assessor

“The ARC is always looking to expand the talent and resources of the Assessor Community. As an assessor, you will have the chance to familiarise yourself with new cutting edge research, in confidence, within your field of expertise. General Assessor recruitment is completed through an annual call for College of Expert nominations where Universities have […]

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