Outstanding results in Excellence in Research Australia report
- Author: Ebony Preen
- Posted: 9th February 2011
UNSW Arts and Social Sciences research well above world standard
The UNSW Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has been recognised for outstanding research performance in the Excellence in Research for Australia report, which evaluated research activity and quality in the country’s 41 higher education institutions.
The analysis, produced by the Australian Research Council, assessed performance across eight broad discipline groups, broken down into 22 fields and 157 specific subject areas. Results are based on a range of indicators including publications and citations, expert review and international benchmarks.
Nationally, UNSW ranked equal first in Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences and equal third in the Humanities and Creative Arts within the eight broad discipline groups.
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences research rated in the top category: outstanding performance well above the world standard (PDF), with a maximum score of five out of five, in the top level of research fields:
• Studies in Creative Arts and Writing
• History and Archaeology
• Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
Our research received the top or equal top rating in the nation with a maximum five out of five score for research in the specific subject areas of:
• Film, Television and Digital Media
• Historical Studies
• Performing Arts and Creative Writing
• Psychology
UNSW was also a clear leader in Policy and Administration receiving the nation’s top rating, above world standard, in this subject area.
The Faculty's reseach was ranked in the leading group, above world standard, in the broad fields of Language, Communication and Culture, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Studies in Human Society and Economics.
Nine subject areas were classified as above world standard; with four out of five for Criminology, Cultural Studies, Literary Studies, Philosophy, Policy and Administration, Social Work, Specialist Studies in Education, Sociology and Other Studies in Human Society.
The ERA results showed the Faculty’s research in seven subject areas to be at world standard. These included Communication and Media Studies, Curriculum and Pedagogy, Environmental Science and Management, History and Philosophy of Specific Fields, Linguistics, Political Science and Public Health and Health Services.
The Dean of the Faculty, Professor James Donald, said that the results are deserved recognition for the Faculty’s research achievements. “The results will inform the Faculty’s thinking with its plans to perform even better in the next ERA in two years time” he said.
The results show that Arts and Social Sciences researchers are at the forefront of their respective fields and highlight the Faculty’s commitment to its five existing and emerging research strengths.
The quality of our research is also recognised by consistently strong results in recent rounds of funding from the Australian Research Council and other funding bodies.
UNSW – NSW’s top ranked university
UNSW is the state’s top ranked university based on the ERA report, nationally, UNSW received the fourth highest rating – 4.04 of a maximum five – measuring its performances in all broad fields of research as “at, above or well above” world standard.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Les Field said “The ERA results confirm UNSW as one of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities performing above world standard, and in many areas, well above international benchmarks.”
ERA Rating Scale
The ERA assessment is the first nationwide analysis of research quality conducted in Australia. Click here (PDF) to see the full ERA report.
Other links you may be interested in:
UNSW – top research performer
Higher Degree Research programs in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Australian Research Council
