ARC Outreach: National Interest Test Statement Updates

Course description

Australian Research Council Executive Director Outreach Session

Presented by Prof Anika Gauja, Executive Director, ARC, this session will provide an update on the changes to the ARC National Interest Test (NIT) statements in 2023.

The National Interest Test (NIT) statement is a requirement in all applications for funding under the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP). The purpose of the NIT is to demonstrate the societal benefits (economic, commercial, environmental, social, or cultural) of the proposed research beyond the academic community. 

Following widespread consultation across the sector, the NIT will continue to be provided by researchers in each application. Key changes are: 

• the considerations to be addressed in the statement have been refined, and the word limit has been increased in response to feedback 

• NIT statements will be certified by the relevant Deputy Vice Chancellors of Research (DVCRs) as addressing the three considerations in plain English and that the statement is directed towards the public audience 

• there will be no revisions to the NIT once submitted to ARC 

• the NIT will be provided to assessors as an input to the peer review process. 

This session will run for 30 minutes with time for questions.

This session will be run via on-line via MS Teams. A link will be sent to you via calendar invitation prior to the session.

If you any questions, please email researcherpd.rds@flinders.edu.au.

Please note we are unable to record this session.

Type of course

Information session

Who should attend

• Any researcher planning to apply to any ARC grant opportunity
• Research support staff

What you will learn

• About the changes to the ARC's National Interest Test