Research Performance Index
The Research Performance Index (RPI) is an initiative run annually to reward researchers for research excellence and scholarship. The RPI scheme allocates funds based on both performance inputs (external research grants) and outputs (publications, successful postgraduate research supervision etc) in the preceding year.
The RPI also provides a mechanism for collecting data that must be submitted by Curtin to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) under the Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC). Research income and research publication information is reported to the Department and utilised, along with data collected from the Higher Education Student Collection, for determining performance based funding from the Australian Government the Institutional Grant Scheme , Research Training Scheme , Research Infrastructure Block Grant , and the Australian Postgraduate Awards Scheme.
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Guidelines
The Scheme is open to Curtin researchers who have made a quantifiable research contribution, and who are either part of an existing, or newly formed, RPI Group. Only activity that can be classified as research, and which occurred in the preceding calendar year, can be claimed under RPI.
For the purposes of the RPI, research is defined as creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications. Such activity necessarily involves an appreciable element of novelty (innovation), uncertainty with respect to outcomes, potential for publication of outcomes in peer-reviewed scholarly media and/or a high level of technical risk.
Detailed information on the RPI is available in the RPI 2008 Round Specifications . These should be read in conjunction with the 2008 HERDC Specifications from DEEWR.
An online training guide can be found by clicking on the relevant link on the left hand menu.
The RPI System
The RPI functionality was transferred fully to the SCRIPT Database for the 2008 Round. The SCRIPT Database can be accessed via the relevant link on the left hand side. Only registered users may access the system, and information will be restricted based on permission levels.
Results from previous RPI Rounds is available on the old RPI System. However, the old system is locked from any alteration or addition of new information and is for archival purposes only. If you need to access to the old system, please contact Pia Meehan on 9266 4245 or via p.meehan@curtin.edu.au.
Spending RPI Funds
Funds generated by RPI points may effectively be regarded as Institutional Grants Scheme (IGS) funds. In accordance with the advice from the Department of Education. Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), IGS funds may be used on any activity that is related to research.
All funds generated by RPI points will be allocated to special 'D' cost centres which will be confirmed by the Office of Research and Development prior to allocation. RPI Groups should endeavour to expend all funds allocated under the RPI within the calendar that they were awarded.
