News Archive

The University of Western Australia has been recognised in the 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) National Report and outcomes, improving on its outstanding 2015 results.

The ERA aims to provide a national stocktake of discipline-level areas of research strength in Australian higher education institutions. It gives government, industry, business and the wider community assurance of the excellence of research conducted.

UWA research outcomes were submitted into 21 broad (known as two digit) fields of research.

• Seven were rated well above world standard – four more than in 2015
• 10 were rated above world standard
• Four were rated at world standard

UWA research outcomes were submitted into 72 detailed (known as four digit) fields of research.

• 29 were rated well above world standard – 12 more than in 2015
• 27 were rated above world standard
• 16 were rated at world standard

The University performed particularly well in Mathematics, with Applied Mathematics improving from a score of 3 (at world standard) in 2012, to 5 (well above world standard) in 2018. Other areas of marked improvement included Pure Mathematics, Astronomical and Space Sciences, Physical Chemistry, Medical and Health Sciences, History and Archaeology, Human Geography, Plant Biology, Geology, Oceanography, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater said the results demonstrated that the University was empowering researchers and students to help address the world’s greatest challenges.

“It’s important that the research conducted at UWA tackles real problems facing society and provides meaningful solutions,” Professor Freshwater said.

“We have a mission to advance the prosperity and welfare of the people of Western Australia, and these ratings show us that we are on track.

“They provide us with a useful measure, and help us to form constructive global partnerships that will further enhance our research outcomes.”

The full ERA results can be found here .

Media references

David Stacey (UWA Media Manager) 08 6488 3229 / 0432 637 716