The Australian Catholic University is among eight new universities that have recorded the fastest growth in research publications, outpacing the sandstone universities, according to a new academic analysis.

The ACU and Bond, Charles Darwin, Charles Sturt, Curtin, Sunshine Coast, the University of South Australia and Wollongong recorded more than 14 percent growth in papers in a year, according to the analysis by the University of Melbourne's Ross Williams in an article for Australian Universities Review, The Australian reports.

The news report said this ups the competition from newer and technology-focused universities for $100 million in funding.

The national share of research papers attributable to the sandstone universities has fallen by almost 2 percent, he said.

Professor Williams said the pre-Dawkins universities still dominated Australian research, producing 82 percent of publications. "But at least as measured by research output there has been some convergence in the research performance of Australian universities," he said.

"[In] the five years to 2008, the pre-Dawkins universities increased their annual publications by about 40 percent, whereas the increase for the post-Dawkins universities was 65 per cent," Professor Williams said.

The analysis attracted the ire of Australian National University vice-chancellor Ian Chubb, after ANU and the University of Western Australia recorded less than 7 percent growth.

"Perverse funding incentives reward [universities] for publishing anything at all and have no regard for its value or its quality," Professor Chubb said.

FULL STORY

Newer universities steal research march on their old sandstone rivals (The Australian)

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Australian Universities Review