HERDC is used in conjunction with the Higher Education Student Data Collection to determine annual research block grant funding
The Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC) provides specifications for higher education providers (HEPs) to submit annual research and development (R&D) income data. It ensures fair and transparent allocation of 色情网站n Government research block grants (RBGs) through the Research Support Program (RSP) and the Research Training Program (RTP).
The 色情网站n Government Department of Education uses HERDC research income data, together with data from the Higher Education Student Data Collection (HESDC), to determine HEPs’ annual RBG allocations.
Information about RBGs, including program guidelines, conditions of grants and processes for calculating grant amounts can be found on the .
HERDC Specifications
Specifications are updated annually by the Department of Education in consultation with HEPs and stakeholders.
HERDC uses the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) definition of research and experimental development (R&D) set out in the which is ‘creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge – including knowledge of humankind, culture and society – and to devise new applications of available knowledge.’
For an activity to be a R&D activity it must jointly satisfy all 5 of the below core criteria. A R&D activity must be:
- novel: aimed at new findings
- creative: based on original, not obvious, concepts and hypotheses
- uncertain: uncertain about the final outcome(s)
- systemic: planned and budgeted
- transferable and/or reproducible: lead to results that could be possibly reproduced
The HERDC specifications include examples of activities that both meet and do not meet the definition of R&D. They also provide a list of inclusions and exclusions, along with guidance on income classification.
Research Income Categories
Audits
The University must arrange for an audit of the Category 1, 2, 3 and 4 research income in its respective research income return and provide the Department with a Special Purpose Audit Report under the Auditing and Assurance Standard Board's Auditing Standard ASA800, which clearly certifies that the research income recorded is correct. An independent, external, qualified auditor should conduct the audit.
The Department's expectation is that the audit also ensures that research income:
- is attributed to activities that comply with the definition of research, as outlined in the
- is attributed to the correct category of research income, and
- is identified by transparent and explicit transactions.
Want to know more?
For more information on HERDC, email the Research Excellence, Performance and Systems Team.