2010 'Big Bang' Data Collection
On the 28 September 2009 the ARC announced the timeframe for the full ERA initiative evaluation process. ERA submissions will begin in June 2010. The final ERA Submission Guidelines and Technical Specifications were released on 14 December 2009.
Data for the University’s ERA submission is being collected via the Research Activity System (RAS) which can be accessed via the Student & Staff Portal.
All eligible researchers (i.e. those affiliated with ECU on the ERA census date of 31 March 2009) are required to enter their ERA data in RAS by 26 March 2010. If you are unsure if you are an ECU ERA-eligible researcher, contact ORI.
Training
Training sessions have been scheduled at each campus between November 2009 and February 2010 and all ECU research staff are encouraged to attend at least one session as outlined in the Training Schedule. Registrations can be submitted via the Staff Development Portal.
To begin entering your ERA data, please refer to the ERA 2010 RAS Step-by-Step Guide for Users (Version 2) (last updated 20 January 2010) which details what data entry needs to occur and how it can be completed.
The following online training modules are also available for those who are unable to attend a training session:
Logging Into The Research Activity System (RAS) (1 minute, 35 seconds)
Entering Your Individual Field of Research (FoR) Codes (1 minute, 55 seconds)
Entering Your Esteem Measures (3 minutes, 22 seconds)
Reviewing and Submitting Existing Research Outputs (5 minutes, 25 seconds)
Creating and Submitting New Research Outputs (6 minutes, 20 seconds)
Hot Desks
ERA "Hot Desks" will be available in each Faculty at scheduled times, between January and March 2010, to provide one-on-one support to researchers who require assistance with entering their ERA data. The Hot Desk Schedule is now available and researchers are encouraged to make an appointment as per the details outlined in the schedule.
Research Activity Index (RAI)
As announced on 25 November 2009, the receipt of RAI funding will now be contingent upon claimants having also completed their ERA data entry, as approved at the Research and Higher Degrees Committee (Executive) meeting on 13 October 2009.
Further information about RAI is available here.
Key Dates
| RAS Opens for ERA 2010 Data Collection | 26 October 2009 |
| ERA/RAS Training Sessions | November 2009 February 2010 |
| Final 2010 ERA Submission Guidelines Released | 14 December 2009 |
| Preliminary 2010 Journal Ranking List Released | 17 December 2009 |
| Final 2010 Conference Ranking List Released | 17 December 2009 |
| Second Phase RAS Development | December 2009 January 2010 |
| Hot Desk Support Provided | January 2010 March 2010 |
| Final 2010 Journal Ranking List Released | 9 February 2010 |
| Final Phase RAS Development | February 2010 |
| RAS Closes for ERA 2010 Data Collection | 26 March 2010 |
| Internal Peer Review Selection Panel Meetings | April 2010 |
| Prepare ERA Submissions | May 2010 |
| ERA Submission Deadline | June 2010 |