Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)

At Flinders University we endeavour to be a community of outstanding scholars engaged in world-leading research that extends the boundaries of knowledge. ERA is important to us as it helps to quantify and showcase our research excellence.

We can do this through ERA by:

• Providing assurance of the excellence of research conducted at Flinders University
• Identifying discipline-level areas of research strength and areas where there is opportunity for development
• Allowing for comparison of Flinders’ research nationally and internationally

ERA definition of Research: 

For the purposes of ERA, research is defined as the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative. 

For the purposes of ERA, disciplines are defined using Field of Research (FoR) codes.  The FoR code directly represents the research content of the research output. Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research is represented by assigning up to three FoR codes to a research output. These codes must be assigned to every research output that is included in the ERA submission. 

As the expert of their own research, all researchers are required to ensure FoR codes are accurately maintained on all research outputs stored in ResearchNow. Research outputs already in ResearchNow can be easily updated using the Expert in the Loop tool available to researchers in Teams. 

All research outputs claimed in ResearchNow from August 2020 must have the Field of Research (FoR) code entered before they can be validated. 

Click on the link below to assist with determining the relevant FoR code relating to your research: 

• StatsNZ

ERA submission assessments have occurred in 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2018.

The next assessment is due to occur in March 2023. The following reference points have been used for ERA 2018, and will be used for ERA 2023. It is expected that post-2023 data will be collected annually and the assessment will be made over a 3 year reference period.

Flinders University is taking a proactive approach to preparing the submission for ERA 2023 and has established a governance framework that utilises a broad range of knowledge and experience from across the academic and professional staff cohorts. A Strategic Advisory Group and four Working Groups provide shared accountability to actively support the DVCR in the development of the ERA 2023 submission and processes going forward to support post-2023 submissions.

The Working Groups are aligned to the 2020 FoR codes:

For further information contact the project manager of the ERA Project Team, Hayley Scott.

For additional details on the Excellence in Research for Australia definitions, benefits, outcomes and requirements click the link below:

• Australian Research Council

Previous ERA data can be found through the link below:

• Australian Research Council ERA reports