Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

In this issue:

1. PMSEIC report released
2. OZCO's Creative innovation strategy
3. From the UK: Creativity in business
4. "Measures of quality and impact" study
5. Cross-disciplinary research: New project
6. ARC Grants #1
7. ARC Grants #2
8. National research priorities
9. And seasons greetings to all!

1. PMSEIC report released

'Imagine Australia', the report into Creativity in the Innovation Economy was considered by the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council on December 2, and made available this week.

The Working Group was chaired by Iain McCalman, the first person from the humanities to be appointed to PMSEIC.

In summary, the recommendations are:

1. Realise the competitive potential of the Australian nation by adopting new innovation policies that recognise the central role of creativity and the creative industries within a rapidly changing environment
2. Realise Australia's full creative and innovation potential by undertaking measures to promote broader cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral teaching and research.
3. Introduce a Creative Innovation Fund to provide new competitive programs and support initiatives for commercial innovation and collaboration between HASS and SET sectors.

PMSEIC is chaired by the Prime Minister. Members include nine Cabinet Ministers; the Chief Scientist; 14 people appointed in an ex officio capacity (mostly from science); and six people personal appointments. Iain is a personal appointment.

2. OZCO's Creative innovation strategy

The Australia Council is releasing a new strategy: "supporting creativity as one of Australia's most valuable assets, of increasingly strategic importance to Australia's future as an innovative, progressive and prosperous nation."

The four key components are:

1. Creative Schools: Promoting arts education in schools
2. Synapse Research: A Cross-Disciplinary Research Framework
3. Creative Leadership: Developing creative leaders and international exchange
4. Create + Accelerate: Support for creative enterprise and innovation"

The 8 page strategy will shortly be posted on the OzCo website.

3. From the UK: Creativity in business

The Cox Review of Creativity in Business has been published.

"The success of the creative industries notwithstanding, there is evidence that UK business is not realising the full potential of applying creativity more widely. The Cox review was commissioned to look at how best to enhance UK business productivity by drawing on our world-leading creative capabilities…

"The review sets out the steps that the Government and the business, broadcasting and education sectors should take to ensure that UK businesses harness the world-class creative talents that the UK possesses."

4. "Measures of quality and impact" study

CHASS recently launched its report into new ways of measuring and evaluating research in the HASS sector, at Parliament House in Canberra.

A hard copy is about to be posted to all Members. It is also available as a PDF file from the CHASS web site.

5. Cross-disciplinary research: New project

The project to examine cross-disciplinary research and education has begun. Consultants have been appointed, planning meetings held, and a reference committee is being established.

In the New Year we will be asking all our Members for case studies, examples the consultants can analyse to find out what makes a successful collaboration and why sometimes they fail.

The final product will be a report setting out a 'best-practice' manual for collaborative activities, and a list of recommendations for changes in industry, government and research organizations.

6. ARC Grants #1

CHASS has written to the Minister about the ARC grants for 2005. We congratulated the Government over the significant increase in the size and success rate of the grants, and the increase in the total amount available for distribution.

We also asked him to clarify media reports that he had vetoed 'more than a handful of proposals the ARC had recommended for funding'.

We asked: "Is the Financial Review report accurate? Were recommended proposals vetoed in your office, and, if so, how many? Are you able to give some guidance on the grounds for rejection?"

No response has been received to date.

7. ARC Grants #2

Peter Hoj, head of the ARC, has suggested that humanities researchers should communicate their ideas to the public more effectively if they want public money for their projects.

Reading between the lines, his message is a plea for researchers to write their proposals in clear language and to include an explanation of its value - or risk Ministerial intervention.

As a CHASS Board member remarked this time last year:

"Memo to humanities researchers: read Don Watson before submitting ARC grant proposals. Seriously, rather than just rail against [unfair media], we could reflect on the arcane, pretentious, indeed pajero-like language we fail to communicate with in the sector, which lays us open to not entirely unmerited ridicule."

(Peter Hoj said that Discovery grants in the creative arts and humanities had risen from 14.5% in 2002, to 17.8% in 2006. Linkage grants had risen from 7.2% to 11.9% over the same period.)

8. National research priorities

CHASS wrote to the Minister recently to request a review of the NRPs: 'Our sector feels excluded from 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.'

The Minister's response indicates that a review of the priorities will begin in 2006, a little earlier than was expected. CHASS welcomes any moves to rectify this distortion in the planning of national research.

(And a view expressed in Government circles is that the HASS sector has yet to take full advantage of opportunities existing within current NRPs. These circles suggest a more positive approach.)

9. And seasons greetings to all!

This year has been momentous for all in the HASS sector, and the pace will not slow in 2006. Thanks to all our Members and supporters, and have a good holiday break.

The CHASS office will be closed from Wednesday 21 December to Tuesday 3 January.

 

Regards

Linda Rosenman
5 December 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