Griffith University ranks among Australia's top-10 research universities, according to the latest Excellence in Research for Australia* (ERA) results. The University provides an outstanding research environment with almost 93 per cent of researchers in fields of research assessed at world-standard or better.

Griffith's research is world-standard or better in 18 broad fields of research placing Griffith in the top eight of universities of Australia. ERA's highest possible rating of '5', reserved for outstanding research, has been awarded to physical sciences, specifically quantum physics, and dentistry at Griffith.
The University is also delighted to have a large number of fields performing above world-standard ('4' rating). These areas include condensed matter physics; earth sciences; oceanography; physical geography and environmental geosciences; soil sciences; microbiology; agricultural and veterinary sciences; fisheries sciences; nursing; urban and regional planning; education systems; commercial services; tourism; political science; and law and legal studies.

The University has research activity in all 25 broad fields of research and in 98 per cent of the 157 specific fields of research outlined in ERA, making it one of the most comprehensive universities in Queensland. Vice Chancellor Professor Ian O'Connor said the University's research footprint was significant as evidenced by this round of ERA results.

"Griffith has a large number of fields of research assessed at world-standard or better and these are located in every major grouping of the University including health, science, environment, information technology, business, social sciences, humanities and the creative and performing arts," Professor O'Connor said. "While we are pleased with our ERA 2010 ratings, we believe the University is well-positioned to achieve even better results in the next ERA round."

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Ned Pankhurst added the ERA 2012 research assessment exercise would reflect Griffith's high growth. "Griffith is experiencing spectacular growth in the University's research activity and profile in recent years, which is also reflected in our success with competitive grants," Professor Pankhurst said. ERA's rating scale awards '5' to outstanding performance well above world-standard; '4' to performance above world-standard; '3' to performance at world-standard; '2' to performance below world-standard; and, '1' to performance well below world-standard.
For more information about ERA's broad fields of research and specific fields of research, also known as two-digit and four-digit fields, visit http://www.arc.gov.au/era/

* Based on fields of research at the 4-digit level in the Excellence in Research for Australia 2010 National Report.

-Tony Sheil and Sabrina Rashid

Source: David Samuel, Business Development Manager Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), Colombo-Sri Lanka

Email: David.Samuel@austrade.gov.au