Invitation to Attend

On behalf of the Australasian Association for Institutional Research (AAIR) Forum Organising Committee may I extend a warm invitation to you to participate in the 18th Annual AAIR Forum which is to be held at the Hyatt Hotel, Canberra from 19 -21 November 2008.

This year’s theme Enhancing Quality Research: a Global Perspective will provide the forum with a specific focus on research while still allowing parallel streams on the various broader aspects of institutional research.

Institutional researchers in universities and other research intensive organisations have a unique opportunity to contribute to their institutions’ understanding of their research effort and in benchmarking the quality of their research by:

• Supporting policy initiatives through the analysis of strategic outcomes
• Benchmarking research performance across sectors and over time (and increasingly more into the future)
• Analysing pathways through which students/staff move into research areas
• Involving themselves in the development and implementation of either local or national frameworks for monitoring research activities.

Collaborative research ventures are increasingly becoming more global.  Institutional researchers need to be more aware of this broader ‘global perspective’ than ever before and develop ways of providing information and analysis on research collaboration.

The 2008 Forum will provide a range of presentations from experts in benchmarking quality research performance within this new global perspective.  It will also offer parallel sessions covering all aspects of institutional research so that AAIR members will be able to attend sessions on their specialities.  Of course this will provide a unique opportunity for you to share your experiences with your colleagues involved in analysing research management data.

The Australian National University and its organising partners are proud to be hosting a forum with a clear focus on research.  And Canberra, as the nation’s capital, will form an inspiring and distinctive backdrop for the social and collaborative activities this forum will offer.

I look forward to seeing you in Canberra in November.

David Marr
Chair, AAIR 2008 Forum Organising Committee

The Australasian Association for Institutional Research (AAIR) was established late in 1988. The broad aim of AAIR is to benefit, assist and advance research which leads to the improved understanding, planning and operation of tertiary education institutions within Australasia. www.aair.org.au