As the debate over international comparisons and the merits of metrics over peer review hots up, John Byron (QUT) asks if the ARC needs to reform Excellence for Research in Australia or just give it a rest

“I remain unconvinced that the reforms would inject enough new life into ERA to make another round worthwhile. That’s not a criticism of the ARC – the option of pausing ERA is not available to them at present – or of their reform proposals, which are imaginative and carefully considered. But an incoming government would be well advised to take a step back instead of just steaming relentlessly ahead, and considering what it hopes to achieve by holding another round,” he argues, in  Features this morning.