Review of ASTEC : an evaluation of the Australian Science and Technology Council

76 Pages·1992·3.2 MB·English

by  Australia. ASTEC Review Committee

REVIEW OF ASTEC
AN EVALUATION OF
THE AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
ASTEC REVIEW COMMITTEE
October 1992
22501845073
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REVIEW OF ASTEC
AN EVALUATION OF
THE AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
COUNCIL
ASTEC REVIEW COMMITTEE
October 1992
INFORMATION CENTRE
16 MAR 1993 <
Weicome Centre for Medicai Science
Australian Government Publishing Service
For further information concerning this report please contact:
The Secretary, Australian Science and Technology Council,
PO Box E 439, Queen Victoria Terrace ACT 2600
© Commonwealth of Australia 1992
ISBN 0 644 25753 9
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the
Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process
without prior written permission from the Australian Government
Publishing Service. Requests and inquiries concerning
reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Manager,
Commonwealth Information Services, Australian Government
Publishing Service, GPO Box 84, Canberra ACT 2601.
Printed in Australia by P. J. GRILLS, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra
ASTEC REVIEW COMMITTEE
Chairman
Sir Rupert Myers KBE FTS PO Box E439
hearers Queen Victoria Terrace
Dr John Bell CANBERRA ACT 2600
Dr AR Kjar
Professor Ian Ross FAA - Tel: [phone]
Mr Eric Thorn
Mr Michael Waller Fax: [phone]
eich peee d 1 October 1992
Mr John Madden
Dear Minister
We, the members of the committee you appointed on 28 April 1992 to conduct an
evaluation of the Australian Science and Technology Council, have completed our task
and have the honour of submitting herewith our report.
We feel we should draw your attention to the fact that during the course of our study we
received some submissions suggesting that the entire science and technology policy
advisory machinery be reviewed. While we have not done this - the review has been
Carried out in accordance with the terms of reference you set down for us - we have been
mindful, in our evaluation and reporting, of the wider context in which ASTEC currently
operates.
We have been greatly assisted in our task by and are most grateful to the present and
former members of ASTEC and the many other organisations and individuals who have
made submissions and have given valuable information and advice. We commend
especially to your attention the excellent service rendered to us by our secretary, Mr John
Madden, to whom we owe our warmest thanks.
Yours sincerely
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REVIEW OF ASTEC
CONTENTS
Letter of Transmittal
Glossary of Acronyms
Executive Summary
CHAPTER ONE: Purpose and Scope of the Review
° Origins of the Review
° Interpretations of the scope of the Review
° Methodology of the Review
° Terms of Reference
CHAPTER TWO: ASTEC’s Establishment and Purpose
° History of ASTEC
° Rationale for ASTEC’s establishment
° Functions, missions and goals
- Principal themes covered by ASTEC reports
CHAPTER THREE: Structures, Procedures and Resources
° Structures and procedures
- Insider and outsider roles of ASTEC
° Membership
° Resources
CHAPTER FOUR: Program Relevance
° The changing S&T policy environment
° ASTEC’s role in a changing environment
CHAPTER FIVE: ASTEC’s Approach to its Tasks
. Introduction
° Issue identification
° Determination of the work program
° Identification of stakeholder needs and role of sponsors
° Systematic structuring of topics
° Gathering the necessary data
° Formulating effective policy advice
° Communicating the results in a timely and understandable way
ill
CHAPTER SIX: Effectiveness of ASTEC’s Outputs and Outcomes 27
Introduction os
The effectiveness of ASTEC’s outputs 27
Quality of reports Zz
The effectiveness of ASTEC’s outcomes 30
Utility, including feasibility of recommendations 30
Impact on policy development 3]
CHAPTER SEVEN: Conclusions and Recommendations 33
Introduction
Recommendation 1
Recommendation 2
Recommendation 3
Recommendation 4
Validity of the findings
Appendix 1; The management strategy of the Review
Review committee arrangements, methodology and timetable
Resources used
List of submissions
Appendix 2: Identification of the Terms of Reference within the Report
INDEX
iV
GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS
ASTEC Australian Science and Technology Council
BMR Bureau of Mineral Resources
CRP Centre for Research Policy
CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization,
Australia
DSTO Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Australia
NISTEP National Institute for Science, Technology and Engineering Policy,
Japan
NSF National Science Foundation, United States of America
OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy, United States of America
PMSC Prime Minister’s Science Council
PMSEC Prime Minister’s Science and Engineering Council
R&D Research and development
S&T Rcience and technology
TCC Technological Change Committee (a former standing committee of
ASTEC)
Ayqrandi 2: idenvifvcation ott heT eese at
INCOR