Australia's research quality framework and gender equity

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.