ARC tender for reviewers closes

ARC inundated with ERA feedback More than 6800 submissions have been made to the Australian Research Council (ARC) about its Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative since it opened a new round of feedback last month. An ARC spokesperson confirmed the number last week and said the ARC was yet to decide which peak bodies and academic groups would be tasked with reviewing the submissions. “The tender [for reviewers] closed on 15 March and the ARC is currently undertaking the tender selection processes,” the spokesperson said. ? The ARC has invited the higher education sector to submit general comments on ERA via its web site until April 7. It is accepting comment on its controversial journal rankings — and conference rankings — via a separate online feedback form until April 4. Today (March 21) is the deadline for people who want to submit new journal titles and conferences for consideration. Monash university humanities senior lecturer Dr Simon Cooper, who has criticised ERA and its journal rankings raised fresh concerns last week. He said the space for providing feedback about journals through the ARC’s web site was very limited. “If you’re interested in arguing for a change of rank, you only have 1024 characters to do so. That averages out to about 250 words,” Cooper said. “This is very different to the open-ended process of last time. It certainly feels as if what you say won’t really be taken seriously.” The ARC argued the point, saying the online forms permitted 1400 to 1750 words per journal. The spokesperson added that reviewers of the submissions could seek further clarifications from commentators. Technical word limitations did not bother another academic. John Lamp, senior lecturer at Deakin University who said there was enough space to make his submissions about journal rankings. He is doing so on behalf of the Australian Council of Professors and Heads of Information Systems. “Personally, I don’t find myself limited,” Lamp said.