ABS SURVEY

Research and Experimental DevelopmentHigher Education 2012

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About RPAG

• Research Performance Analysis Group – government compliance data collections– Research Income– Research Publications– Research Expenditure (ABS R&D Survey)– ERA (Excellence in Research for Australia)

• For more information about research data collections http://mro.unimelb.edu.au/content/data-collections

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About ABS R&D Survey

• ABS collects data on R&D in surveys of business, higher education, government and private non-profit organisations

• Government and businesses may use the R&D survey data as input to policy formulation, the allocation of funds and determining priorities for research

• This is a biennial survey

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ABS Data Collection in Melbourne Uni

• Melbourne Research being the sole contact with ABS, collecting system research data in conjunction with other units

• Departments checking data & making necessary adjustments

• Our ABS website http://mro.unimelb.edu.au/content/research-expenditure-abs-survey

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ABS Guidelines Highlights

• Scope: all research carried out during 2012

• Estimates: careful estimates are acceptable when actual figures are not available

• Due date: 30 August 2013

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Definition of R&D

• Activity Codes in Chart of Accounts– 12 Research– 13 Research Training– 79 Research Training Support Services– 82 Research Support Services

• These activity codes applied to our data collections– Human resources (staff FTE)– Expenditure on R&D– Source of funds (for R&D expenditure)

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Data Items

• Field of research (FOR)• Socio-economic objective (SEO)• Research staff FTE• Postgraduate research student load• Type of R&D activity• Expenditure on R&D• Source of funds (income)

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FOR & SEO Codes

• ANZSRC 2008 codes• Group (4-digit) level• Data source: Themis research agreements

active in the year 2012– 1998 codes converted to 2008 codes– % of each code to total contract value

proportioned

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Research Staff FTE

• Data source: HR payroll systems as of 31 Dec 12

• Permanent and casual staff FTE with following activity cost codes:12, 13, 79, 82

• Type of staff• Academics (Level A, B, C, D, etc.)• Other staff supporting R&D (HEW)

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Postgraduate Research Student Load

• Data source: 2012 DEEWR submission provided by Finance and Planning Group

• Course type code– 02 Doctorate by research– 03 Masters by research

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Type of R&D Activity

• Data source: Staff on HR payroll systems as of 31 Dec 12 whose R&D activity types have been recorded (permanent staff only)

• R&D activities – Pure basic research– Strategic basic research– Applied research– Experimental development

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Expenditure on R&D

• Data source – General Ledger data based on 2012 account posting

5000 – 5999 (activity codes 12, 13, 79, 82)– Asset additions (provided by Corporate Finance)– Land and buildings (reviewed by Prop & Camp Services)

• Capital expenditure– Land, buildings & other structures (shared expenditure)– Other capital expenditure (GL data + asset additions)

• Current expenditure– Staff expenditure– Scholarships for research higher degree– Other current expenditure

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Source of Funds (for R&D expenditure)

• Data source– Commonwealth income collection data– Commonwealth funded Higher Education

specific R&D programs (eg. APA, IPRS, RIBG)– General University Funds to balance research

expenditure• It is not expected that what is reported

here will match the HERDC return

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Source of Funds (ABS-HERDC Mapping)Inc Cat Inc Cat Desc ABS_Inc Cat ABS_Inc DescC1.1 ACG - Com'lth Schemes 7a ACGR - Comm'lth SchemesC1.3 ACG - Rural R&D 7a ACGR - Comm'lth SchemesC1.2 ACG - Non-Com'lth Schemes 7b ACGR - Non Comm'lth SchemesC2.1 Local Govt 7c StateLocalGovtC2.2 State Govt 7c StateLocalGovtC2.3 Com'lth Govt (other) 7d OtherCthC3.1 Aust Contracts 7e BusinessC3.2 Aust Grants 7e BusinessC3.3 Aust Don/B'quests/F'dations 7f/7g Donations/GenUniFudnsC3.5 Int Funding 7i NonOzC3.6 Dom HDR Fees 7h OtherOzC4 CRC 7d/7e OtherCth/BusinessExcluded Com'lth R&D support programs 7d OtherCth

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Department Data Checking

• What you will receive – An Excel spreadsheet containing the data to be

checked – A Certification Form to be signed by HoD

• Raw data (except FOR/SEO codes) available upon request

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Data Checking Tips

• FOR/SEO– To validate department R&D expenditure, there

must be corresponding FOR/SEO codes– Sum of total percentage should be 100– Review R&D activities of your department and

adjust FOR/SEO codes to reflect it – Try to eliminate SEO 9701– References:

• ABS Appendix: FOR/SEO Classifications• 2010 ABS submission

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Data Checking Tips (cont’d)

• Staff FTE– Review staff activity on HR payroll system and

make adjustments if necessary– Staff FTE must have an associated staff

expenditure and vice versa• Postgraduate Research Student Resources

– Student load (EFTSL) as reported to DEEWR

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Data Checking Tips (cont’d)

• Type of Activity (TOA)– To validate department R&D expenditure, there

must be corresponding TOA codes– Sum of total percentage should be 100– Review R&D activities of your department and

adjust TOA codes to reflect it

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Data Checking Tips (cont’d)

• Expenditure on R&D– FOR/SEO/TOA codes required to validate your

department R&D expenditure– Staff expenses with associated Staff FTE– Scholarships with associated RHD student EFTSL?

• Source of Funds– Total source of funds must equal total expenditure

on R&D• Tips: Eliminate negative amount expenditure

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Issues

• Star Departments – Faculty general office– Historical departments with legacy data– Medical research institutes– University general R&D support offices

• Department merge and data reallocation may be needed to meet ABS requirements

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Department Return by 9 August

• Checked data• Consent Form signed by Head of Dept• Tips: remember to report the hours you

have spent on ABS work

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