It was an assessment framework and a funding model, similar to the Research Assessment Exercise in the United Kingdom and the Performance Based Research Fund in New Zealand.
[1] On 21 December 2007, the new Australian Government announced that it would not be proceeding with the RQF project, which was an initiative of the former Government,[2] and began developing the Excellence in Research for Australia initiative.
The quality of research includes its intrinsic merit and academic impact – that is recognition of the originality of research by peers and its impact on the development of the same or related disciple areas.
UK's Professor Sir Gareth Roberts was appointed as the Chair of the Expert Advisory Group,[1] having been commissioned in June 2002 to review the future of research assessment in the UK.
[3] The list of members was announced 21 December 2004 as:[4][5] Minister Julie Bishop received the Research Quality Framework: Assessing the quality and impact of research in Australia – Final Advice on the Preferred RQF Model paper from Sir Gareth Roberts, approved its release, and announced the establishment of the RQF Development Advisory Group (RQFDAG), to be chaired by Australia's chief scientist, Dr Jim Peacock AC.