Flinders University has doubled its exceptional performance results in the 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling says Flinders has achieved ten fields of research at Rating 5 "well above world standard" ranking, up from five fields in the 2015 assessment.
"It is a result which consolidates our reputation as a world class research-intensive university" Professor Stirling says.
A further 12 fields were ranked Rating 4 "above world standard", and 22 fields were ranked Rating 3 "at world standard".
"The improvement in our performance is due in part to our strategic appointments which have added strength and depth in areas of strategic importance."
"I am confident our performance will be further bolstered by our recently announced investment of an additional $100 million into research over the next five years" Professor Stirling says.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Robert Saint praised Flinders researchers for their commitment to making a positive difference through high quality research.
"I congratulate all our dedicated researchers, and especially those who have moved up the four-digit specific research field rankings and are working at levels which are equal to or better than the rest of the world.
"I'm particularly delighted with our newcomers to outstanding performance – the discipline of Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry was assessed for the first time and made its debut at Rating 5 well above world standard. Evolutionary Biology had previously been assessed at Rating 3 world standard in 2015 but has jumped up to Rating 5 well above world standard in 2018. Plant Biology, Condensed Matter Physics, Oncology & Carcinogenesis, Physical Chemistry and Material Engineering shifted from Rating 4 up to Rating 5 too.
"And consolidating their Rating 5 rankings in 2012 and 2015, we continue to produce outstanding results in various fields of physics, chemistry and medicine, in particular Nanotechnology, Cardiovascular Medicine & Haematology, and Ophthalmology & Optometry.
"These results reflect our leadership in innovation and groundbreaking research that extends beyond our campuses to engage business, industry and the community" Professor Saint says.
Highest possible Rating 5 ranking achieved in:
- Cardiovascular Medicine and Haematology
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Materials Engineering
- Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology & Carcinogenesis
- Ophthalmology and Optometry
- Physical Chemistry
- Plant Biology
Above World Class Rating 4 ranking achieved in:
- Clinical Sciences
- Criminology
- Ecology
- Nursing
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
- Policy and Administration
- Psychology
- Performing Arts and Creative Writing
- Zoology
World Class Rating 3 ranking achieved in:
- Archaeology
- Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Cultural Studies
- Curriculum and Pedagogy
- Film, Television and Digital Media
- Fisheries Sciences
- Historical Studies
- Human Geography
- Human Movement and Sports Science
- Industrial Biotechnology
- Law
- Literary Studies
- Neurosciences
- Philosophy
- Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
- Political Science
- Public Health and Health Services
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Specialist Studies in Education
The 2018 ERA evaluation, led by the Australian Research Council, assessed research performance conducted in Australia's higher education sector using a combination of indicators and review by internationally recognised experts
It provides a broad overview referred to as a two digit analysis and a more comprehensive four digit assessment, on which Flinders University has focused to detail results in specific fields. Based on our four digit code results, some 90% of Flinders University research is at or above world standard.
