Australia's research quality framework and gender equity

Authors

  • Siobhan Austen Curtin University

Abstract

This article presents quantitative evidence that shows that the introduction of a research assessment scheme similar to the proposed Research Quality Framework (RQF) is likely to exacerbate gender inequity in the Australian university sector. It contributes new measures of gender differences in the publications records of Australian academics. It also identifies the significant impact that measured research performance already has on the promotion chances of Australian academics. Both pieces of evidence indicate that an RQF-style scheme would increase the importance of measured research success in determining career chances and, in doing so, would further reduce gender equity in the university sector.

Author Biography

  • Siobhan Austen, Curtin University
    Siobhan Austin is co-director of the Women in Social and Economic Research (WiSER) unit and member of the School of Economics and Finance, Curtin University, Perth. WiSER is a multi-disciplinary team of researchers who investigate women’s economic and social status and who provide gendered policy analysis to a variety of government agencies. Siobhan’s particular research fields are those relating to the impacts of demographic change on the employment of Australian women, pay equity, women’s retirement incomes, and alternative methodological approaches to the evaluation of economic well-being.

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Published

2008-05-01

Issue

Section

General Refereed Papers