scholarly journals Benchmarking: An International Comparison

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Tower ◽  
Brenda Ridgewell
Keyword(s):  
Visual Arts ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Peer Assessment ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Research Assessment ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

The study examines the impact of national research assessment exercises for the accounting and visual arts disciplines. Analysis is also made of the impact of a national research quality assessment exercise of New Zealand and UK initiatives (Tertiary Education Commission. 2004; RAE, 2001) and well as the proposed Australian RQF (2005). We find that whilst the definition of research is broad enough to include most of the activities of accounting and finance, and visual arts academia the actual measures of research performance may be problematic. The need to clearly demonstrate quality peer review is the largest hurdle especially for visual arts academics with their individualist and independent mindset. Whilst visual arts and, accounting and finance academia research performance activity was ranked low in both the UK and NZ, we conclude that that the focus on output quality and peer assessment offers a potentially broader and more accurate depiction of activity. Obtaining a balanced broader assessment of both traditional performance measures such as research publications of accounting and finance along with the more creative elements of visual arts such as exhibitions is paramount. We also make a call for more research training for both disciplines to assist them in the recognition of quality research productivity.

scholarly journals University Performance Evaluation: The Business Of Research

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Ridgewell ◽  
Greg Tower
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
Visual Arts ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Research Assessment ◽  
National Assessment ◽  
Measurement Models ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
The Impact

The study examines the impact of national research assessment exercises for the visual arts discipline in a university structure.  It encompasses issues of evaluation, benchmarking, performance management, performance indicators and explanatory factors.  We find that whilst the definition of research is broad enough to include most of the activities of visual arts academia. The actual operationalisation of the measurement models may well exclude many current activities.  The need to clearly demonstrate quality peer review is the largest hurdle.  Analysis is also made of the impact of a ‘national research quality assessment exercise’ such as the New Zealand and UK initiatives (Tertiary Education Commission. 2004; RAE, 2001).  Whilst visual arts academia research performance activity was ranked low in both countries, we find that their position on the need for quality and peer assessment offers a potentially broader and more accurate depiction of activity.  Obtaining a balanced broader assessment of both traditional performance measures such as research publications along with the more creative elements of visual arts such as exhibitions is paramount. The national assessment exercises show that visual arts academics are struggling to compete with their academic brethren in other disciplines.  We argue the need for national assessment exercises engenders an acceptable peer review system to better assess their broad research activities for non-traditional areas. We also make calls for more research presentation training for the visual arts discipline to assist them in the recognition of quality research productivity.  The implementation of a national research assessment system which focuses more on quality output and outcome measures instead of input measures such as research income will engender this debate.

scholarly journals Pay Peanuts and Get Monkeys? Evidence from Academia

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn Boyle
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Research Assessment ◽  
Research Assessment Exercise ◽  
Unique Data ◽  
Market Opportunities ◽  
Academic Salary ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Impact

Abstract In most countries, academic pay is independent of discipline, thus ignoring differences in labor market opportunities. Using some unique data from a comprehensive research assessment exercise undertaken in one such country -- New Zealand -- this paper examines the impact of discipline-independent pay on research quality. I find that the greater the difference between the value of a discipline's outside opportunities and its New Zealand academic salary, the weaker its research performance in New Zealand universities. The latter apparently get what they pay for: disciplines in which opportunity cost is highest relative to the fixed compensation are least able to recruit high-quality researchers. Paying peanuts attracts mainly monkeys.

scholarly journals Defining and evaluating the impact of cross-disciplinary conservation research

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 442-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANNA C. EVELY ◽  
IOAN FAZEY ◽  
XAVIER LAMBIN ◽  
EMILY LAMBERT ◽  
SARAH ALLEN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Impact ◽  
Environmental Problems ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Conservation Research ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARYCross-disciplinary research is advocated as a way of improving understanding of the complexity of environmental problems; cross-disciplinary projects, centres and academic institutes have increased. However, there is confusion over the nature of cross-disciplinary research. Through review of papers defining themselves as cross-disciplinary that aim to address conservation problems, and by standardizing the definition of cross-disciplinary research, it is possible to evaluate the potential research impact on peers and practitioners. When papers were reclassified by authors, those reclassified as transdisciplinary were perceived to have a greater impact on practitioners, and those reclassified as non cross-disciplinary had the greatest impact on colleagues. Having clear definitions for types of cross-disciplinary research would help establish a firm foundation, not only for improving research quality, but also for evaluating research impact. While the number of cross-disciplinary studies is increasing, cross-disciplinary research falls short of integrating disciplinary methods in much depth and does not have much impact on participants outside of academia.

The Impact of Dementia on Oral Health and Dental Care, Part 1: Setting the Scene for Dental Care Provision

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 24-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Kerr ◽  
Charlotte Curl ◽  
Andrew Geddis-Regan
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Care Environment ◽  
Oral Pain ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

There are over 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK and this figure is expected to rise to over a million by 2021. Increasingly, oral healthcare professionals in primary care will see more patients affected by dementia at varying stages of the disease, and it is therefore crucial that they have a basic understanding of the disease and how these patients can be managed in a primary care environment. The first article in this series of two provides a definition of dementia and describes the symptoms of the disease along with the key issues related to oral health, such as oral pain. Oral pain can have far reaching consequences, but identifying it can be problematic, particularly in the latter stages of the disease. This article will therefore cover how to diagnose pain in patients with dementia. Information is also provided about how to make dental surgeries more ‘dementia friendly’.

scholarly journals Accommodating nomadism and mobility

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 324-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoë James ◽  
Rebekah Southern
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Core ◽  
South West ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Socially Excluded ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how and why Gypsies and Travellers are socially excluded in England and how their experience may be reflected in other European contexts. Specifically, the paper explores the impact of planning policies on accommodation provision for Gypsies and Travellers in England and subsequently how their exclusion manifests due to the sedentarist binary definition of nomadism embedded within that policy. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on evidence from empirical research carried out by the authors in the South West of England in 2015 as part of an accommodation needs assessment of Gypsies and Travellers. The research was commissioned by a local authority but the analysis presented here was carried out in addition to the core report. The decision to comment further on the research findings in relation to policy and theory was agreed with the project funders. Findings The research findings show that there continues to be a lack of accommodation provided to Gypsies and Travellers in England, despite policy and legislative initiatives to the contrary. The paper identifies that current government policy in England is likely to diminish access to appropriate accommodation in the future for Gypsies and Travellers, particularly for the most vulnerable. Finally, the paper concludes that a sedentarist binary definition of nomadism has failed to recognise Gypsy and Traveller communities’ culture or mobility. Originality/value This paper sets out how an underpinning “sedentarist binary” definition of nomadism is used in England to determine policies of provision for Gypsies and Travellers. That definition is based on the sedentary notions of nomadism that are binary, distinguishing only between people who are mobile and people who are not, rather than acknowledging the cultural nomadism of Gypsies and Travellers. The findings are useful beyond the UK context as they help to explain why Gypsies, Travellers and Roma in wider Europe remain excluded within states despite extensive European initiatives for inclusion.

The balance of food supply: The nature, content, assessment methodology

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-507
Author(s):  
S.M. Baskakov
Keyword(s):  
Food Supply ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Content Assessment ◽  
Methods Of Evaluation ◽  
Social Interests ◽  
Food Market ◽  
Unique Approach ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Subject. The article reviews the mechanism for harmonizing the economic and social interests of various entities of the food market in the organization of food supply to the population. Objectives. The aim is to improve the theoretical framework and develop a scientifically sound approach to assessing the balance of food supply to the population. Methods. The study employs a unique approach to examining the balance of food supply from the perspective of three structural and consistently interconnected elements, i.e. a phenomenon, a process and a condition. It provides an interpretation of each element, methods of evaluation, based on structural division of indicators into the balanced, exceeding the balance, and below the specified level. These indicators are differentiated into seven functional groups (from minimal to maximum balance). Results. The paper gives a comparative assessment of the level of balance of food supply in the UK, France, Czech Republic, Latvia, and Russia, and the definition of priority areas for the agricultural sector development in these countries. Conclusions. The proposed approach enables not only a refreshing perspective on the problem of achieving a balanced food supply, but it can also form a basis of the organizational and economic mechanism of changes in this area, as takes into account the impact on food supply of not only economic, but also social factors that consider the specifics of a particular State. The findings of the study can be used by agribusiness authorities to make practical decisions in the food sector and to adjust directions of its development.

Cyber Crimes

2019 ◽  
pp. 76-91
Author(s):  
Hasan L. Al-Saedy
Keyword(s):  
Annual Cost ◽  
International Security ◽  
World Peace ◽  
Cyber Crime ◽  
Evidence Gathering ◽  
Cyber Crimes ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

The financial cost of cyber crime now has an annual cost estimated in the UK in eleven figures. In this chapter an ethic based definition of cyber crime is introduced and cyber crimes are classified. The impact of each class of cyber crime on society, individual, government and international security is highlighted. The cost of cyber crime is evaluated and a technique to prevent and mitigate the effect of these crimes on individual, government and international security and world peace is indicated. The forensic techniques and tools used in cyber crime evidence gathering and prosecuting procedure is also indicated. Finally, recommendations and suggestion are given to mitigate the impact of cyber crime on individuals, societies, world finance and international security.

scholarly journals Integrated Reporting Implementation and Core Activities Disclosure in UK Higher Education Institutions

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Mahalaxmi Adhikariparajuli ◽  
Abeer Hassan ◽  
Mary Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Through integrated reporting (IR) and integrated thinking (IT), higher education institutions (HEIs) can engage future students, staff and other key stakeholders. This paper examines the impact of IR framework implementation on core activities disclosure within the UK HEIs. In particular, the authors explore the influence of the integrated thinking approach, intended to enhance the extent of the IR content elements, teaching and learning, internationalisation and research activities disclosure. The study is based on the annual reports of 123 UK HEIs over 3 years—2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18. Consistent with the predictions of legitimacy theory and the integrated thinking approach, the results show the extent that integrated reporting content elements and HEIs core activities disclosure practices have increased over the study period. The results also indicate that adoption of the IR framework, league table ranking position, key performance indicator reporting, size, research quality and graduate prospects all have significant positive influences on HEIs core activities disclosure. Based on the findings, the recommendations are that UK HEI governing and other regularity bodies, such as British Universities Finance Director Groups, Leadership Foundation in Higher Education and the Higher Education Funding Council, should consider development of voluntary integrated reporting guidelines and a core activities disclosure framework.

scholarly journals COVID-19, Alcohol Consumption and Stockpiling Practises in Midlife Women: Repeat Surveys During Lockdown in Australia and the United Kingdom

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma R. Miller ◽  
Ian N. Olver ◽  
Carlene J. Wilson ◽  
Belinda Lunnay ◽  
Samantha B. Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Midlife Women ◽  
Multivariate Techniques ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Risky Alcohol ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: This project examined the impact of COVID-19 and associated restrictions on alcohol practises (consumption and stockpiling), and perceptions of health risk among women in midlife (those aged 45–64 years).Methods: We collected online survey data from 2,437 midlife women in the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia in May 2020, recruited using a commercial panel, in the early days of mandated COVID-19 related restrictions in both countries. Participants were surveyed again (N = 1,377) in July 2020, at a time when COVID-19 restrictions were beginning to ease. The surveys included the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test—Consumption (AUDIT-C) and questions alcohol stockpiling. Analysis involved a range of univariate and multivariate techniques examining the impact of demographic variables and negative affect on consumption and acquisition outcomes.Results: In both surveys (May and July), UK women scored higher than Australian women on the AUDIT-C, and residence in the UK was found to independently predict stockpiling of alcohol (RR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.91). Developing depression between surveys (RR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.04) and reporting pessimism (RR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.81), and fear/anxiety (RR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.70) at the beginning of the study period also predicted stockpiling by the end of the lockdown. Having a tertiary education was protective for alcohol stockpiling at each time point (RR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.87).Conclusions: COVID-19 was associated with increases in risky alcohol practises that were predicted by negative emotional responses to the pandemic. Anxiety, pessimism and depression predicted stockpiling behaviour in UK and Australian women despite the many demographic and contextual differences between the two cohorts. Given our findings and the findings of others that mental health issues developed or were exacerbated during lockdown and may continue long after that time, urgent action is required to address a potential future pandemic of alcohol-related harms.

scholarly journals The visible hand of research performance assessment

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Hamann
Keyword(s):  
Research Performance ◽  
Performance Assessments ◽  
Invisible Hand ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Research Assessment ◽  
Market Forces ◽  
Research Assessment Exercise ◽  
Research Staff ◽  
Visible Hand

Far from allowing a governance of universities by the invisible hand of market forces, research performance assessments do not just measure differences in research quality, but yield themselves visible symptoms in terms of a stratification and standardization of disciplines. The article illustrates this with a case study of UK history departments and their assessment by the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and the Research Excellence Framework (REF), drawing on data from the three most recent assessments (RAE 2001, 2008, REF 2014). Symptoms of stratification are documented by the distribution of memberships in assessment panels, of research active staff, and of external research grants. Symptoms of a standardization are documented by the publications submitted to the assessments. The main finding is that the RAEs/REF and the selective allocation of funds they inform consecrate and reproduce a disciplinary center that, in contrast to the periphery, is well-endowed with grants and research staff, decides in panels over the quality standards of the field, and publishes a high number of articles in high-impact journals. This selectivity is oriented toward previous distributions of resources and a standardized notion of “excellence” rather than research performance.

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