Successes

The University of Otago is one of New Zealand's top-ranked university for research and has excelled in all PBRF Quality Evaluation exercises.

The University of Otago's focus on excellence in research was reaffirmed in the 2018 Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) Quality Evaluation results, which saw a 30 per cent increase in the number of A-rated staff at the University, along with strong increases across the other research grades.

Since the 2012 evaluation, Otago's number of A-rated staff has increased from 189 to 248. Overall, there was a 16 per cent increase in funded staff – up from 1298 to 1508.

The University's B and C rated researchers increased 10 per cent and 20 per cent respectively, along with a 15 per cent increase in funded FTE for C-rated new-and-emerging (NE) staff.

The 2018 assessment also revealed a large number of NE staff who have achieved B ratings early in their careers.

The Tertiary Education Commission's report on the 2018 PBRF Quality Evaluation exercise contains a rich and detailed view of the research performance of Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs), research strengths in different subject areas, and the performance of individual Nominated Academic Units (NAUs) within TEOs.

Results Summary

Key results for the University of Otago from the 2018 report are:

Otago has 248 A-rated staff (representing 228.67 fulltime employees or FTE) and 608 B-rated staff (555.69 FTE), second only to the University of Auckland. A-rated researchers are judged as possessing high international standing in their fields and B-rated as enjoying high national standing. A summary of where the University stands in terms of the FTE of A/B/C/CNE/R staff (and comparisons with 2003/2006/2012/2018) is:

Otago's staff profile shows very good balance and commitment to developing new researchers, with 287 (262.6 FTE) of the University's 'new and emerging' (NE) staff receiving funded grades. Of these 245 (225.63 FTE) received 'C(NE)' grades and 42 (38.45 FTE) received 'B' grades.

Average Quality Score

In 2018, the TEC reported on two average quality score (AQS) metrics (compared with four AQS metrics in 2012).

The AQS(E) provides an indication of the extent to which teaching and learning at degree-level and above is underpinned by research at each TEO based on a multi-year average of FTE totals relative to the number of funded Quality Categories.

The AQS(S) indicates the extent to which staff whose EPs were assigned a funded Quality Category are representative of all academic teaching and research staff at each TEO. The higher the number the greater the intensity of degree-level provision that is informed by research.

Otago showed a marked increase in both the AQS(E) and AQS(S) in the 2018 assessment compared with the 2012 assessment and ranks as one of the top TEOs in New Zealand.