6. NEW EDITION OF THE AUSTRALIAN STANDARD RESEARCH CLASSIFICATION (ASRC)
The Australian Standard Research Classification (ASRC) is the collective name given to a set of three related classifications designed for use in the measurement and analysis of research and experimental development (R&D) undertaken in Australia. The first (1993) edition was developed by a working group comprised of representatives from a number of organisations. At the time of release it was envisaged that the classifications would be periodically reviewed.
A review of two of the classifications, Field of Research (FOR) and Socio-economic Objective (SEO), commenced at the end of 1995. While the review was underway, the then Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA) decided to contract out a review of their own Higher Education classifications. A recommendation from the review was to develop a unified classification covering fields of research and fields of study. Accordingly, the FOR was replaced by the Research Fields, Courses and Disciplines (RFCD) classification.
The revised (1998 edition) ASRC, incorporating the unchanged Type of Activity (TOA) classification, new RFCD classification and revised SEO classification, was released on 28 August 1998.
It is intended to implement the revised classifications commencing with the following R&D surveys: of businesses for 1999-2000; of the Higher Education sector for 2000; and of government and private non-profit organisations for 2000-2001.