Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

In this issue:

1. New CHASS Board elected
2. The Research Quality Framework (RQF)
3. Measures of quality and impact in research
4. HASS on the Hill 2005
5. Letter to Minister Nelson
6. National Press Club address
7. Next major project
8. Thanks to "HASS on the Hill" sponsors
9. Symposia by the learned academies

1. New CHASS Board elected

Elizabeth More, Greg Craven and Stuart Cunningham are the new members elected to the CHASS Board at the AGM last month.

John Byron, Tom Stannage and Julie Wells all retired from the inaugural CHASS Board at the AGM in August. My heartfelt thanks to all three. They each made a distinct and significant contribution to the establishment of CHASS as an effective advocacy body.

The full Board is now:

• Malcolm Gillies (President) - ANU
• Linda Rosenman (Vice-president) - UQ
• Stuart Hamilton (Secretary) - Open Universities Australia, Melbourne
• Julie Dyson (Treasurer) - Dance Council of Australia
• Andrea Hull (Chair, Policy Committee) - VCA, Melbourne
• Greg Craven - Curtin
• Stuart Cunningham - QUT
• Elizabeth More - Macquarie
• Libby Raupach - Helpmann Academy, Adelaide
• Sue Rowley - UTS
• Toss Gascoigne (ex-officio, non-voting)

The Policy Committee will be chaired by Andrea Hull, with Stuart Hamilton and Julie Wells (former Board Member) as members.

2. The Research Quality Framework (RQF)

The RQF Preferred Models Paper will be released shortly, for comment. We understand that comment is due by mind-October.

It is important that the policy-makers hear the voice of the HASS sector!

We will advise all our subscribers when the Models Paper is out, where you can access it, and the address to make submissions.

3. Measures of quality and impact in research

The CHASS view on how the humanities, arts and social sciences SHOULD be evaluated is contained in our paper "Measures of Quality and Impact in HASS Research."

It sets out an evaluation process which takes into account ALL the outputs of our diverse sector, not simply papers and citations, and draws heavily on a consultation process that involved hundreds of people in the HASS sector.

This paper is in the final minutes of drafting. It will be available to you as a resource of ideas for submissions to the RQF before the closing date.

4. HASS on the Hill 2005

"It was a most successful event, and one that took a day or two to fully appreciate for its powerful effect. I'd like to thank everyone for their good work. The panel with feedback; the interesting array of events on the first day; the rather astonishing performance by Dr Brendan Nelson; the conviviality and great opportunity to meet people and talk." Comment by one participant.

Other feedback from registrants and MPs is on our website.

5. Letter to Minister Nelson

Brendan Nelson addressed registrants in the HASS on the Hill event, at a breakfast meeting in the Mural Hall at Parliament House.

His remarks were seen as very encouraging by registrants, and he received a warm reception. There is a general recognition that he has taken a strong lead in encouraging the humanities, arts and social sciences to take their rightful place in the policy-making arena.

He did indicate, however, that the Government is reluctant to add to the existing list of national research priorities.

I wrote to him after the event, to thank him for his support, but also to point out that people in our sector feel excluded from the priority research areas, partly because they do not mention key issues of importance for HASS (eg Asia), and partly because the wording of the priorities is seen as sciencentric in nature.

I offered our assistance in working on this issue. We shall see …

6. National Press Club address

The transcript of Malcolm Gillies' talk available on the web site, along with photos taken at the lunch at the National Press Club.

Also posted is an excellent address at the Briefing Day by Professor David Cannadine.

7. Next major project

CHASS will shortly be looking at the nature of cross-disciplinary collaborations between people working the HASS and those in science, technology, engineering and medicine (STEM).

The aim is look at existing collaborations, and discover the issues they are tackling, how they began, funding sources, and any difficulties they encounter. How can collaborative activity be encouraged?

There will be an opportunity to be involved in this study. More information in the next month.

8. Thanks to "HASS on the Hill" sponsors

Our grateful thanks to the following organizations, all sponsors of our recent event:

Platinum

• Australia Council
• Australasian Council of Deans of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Gold

• Australian Academy of the Humanities
• Australian Research Council

Silver

• Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering
• Group of Eight
• Innovative Research Universities
• National Tertiary Education Union
• Pharmacy Guild of Australia
• University of Newcastle

Special sponsors

• Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools
• Department of Education, Science and Training
• National Library of Australia

9. Symposia by the learned academies

1. "Ideas and Influence", the annual symposium of the Academy of Social Sciences, is at the Shine Dome in Canberra on 7 November. It includes the Cunningham Lecture by Paul Kelly. Ring the Academy for information: (02) 6249 1788
2. "Creating value: the Humanities and their Publics" is the Academy of the Humanities annual symposium. Old Parliament House in Canberra, 17-18 November. George Negus is among the speakers. Register online at: www.humanities.org.au, or phone (02) 6125 9860

 

Regards

Malcolm Gillies
1 September 2005

 

For more information, please contact:

Toss Gascoigne

Executive Director

Council of the Humanties, Arts and Social Sciences

Phone: +61 2 6249 1995

director@chass.org.au