PBRF delay.

Te Amorangi Mātauranga Matua | The Tertiary Education Commission has delayed the next PBRF round by another year, to 2026.

The TEC says “This decision has been made following a request from Universities New Zealand, which raised significant concerns about the impacts of COVID-19 on individual researchers and on tertiary education organisations (TEOs). Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education has also been lobbying for a delay for similar reasons.

Te Pou Ahurei | National Secretary Sandra Grey says the delay further illustrates fundamental flaws inherent in the Performance Based Research Fund.

“PBRF is designed for a perfect world that doesn’t exist and is therefore incapable of dealing with extraordinary circumstances. We saw it with the Christchurch earthquakes and we’re seeing it again now. It’s a funding model that’s reliant on individuals and their performance instead of taking a holistic approach to Aotearoa’s research needs.”

“This delay once again begs the question: is PBRF fit for purpose? We say no, and we have been consistently saying no for some time now. It’s time to stop adding more bandages and lance the boil instead.”