Does MAI Kōrero count for PBRF?

  • 27 May 2011

With the re-established forum called ‘MAI Kōrero’, we have been asked if contributing to it counts for PBRF. So far, I have assumed that the answer is “yes”. However, I raise the topic here for wider discussion so that people who are more familiar with PBRF can help confirm a clearer position.

I have supposed that the that postings can count as a CRE (“Contribution to Research environment”) because although MAI Kōrero is not a peer-reviewed journal, it is a formally established scholarly forum for exchanging dialogue on issues of interest in the broad area of Māori and indigenous development. Moreover, MAI Kōrero is part of Ngā Pae’s strategy for the communication of research and research-related issues through a range of vehicles from high-level journals, conferences, seminars, newsletters, MAI site programmes and online dialogue that results from our networks of scholars. In this context, it is not a place to ‘blog’ but is a specific device for research-related communications and scholarly dialogue.

It is interesting that PBRF was one of the topics discussed at last year’s 3rd symposium on leadership provided by Manu Ao and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga. Meegan Hall convened a superb seminar entitled “Unpacking PBRF”. This led to a discussion group (that included Drs Fiona te Momo, Dan Hikuroa and Adreanne Ormond) that was able to de-mystify the PBRF process and to share that with symposium participants.

Listed below, are some CRE categories from Meegan’s paper that indicate how a MAI Kōrero contribution might fit:

  1. Contributions to a research discipline.
  2. Facilitating discipline-based and research networks.
  3. Contributions to the research environment within and outside the TEO.
  4. Contribution to researcher development.Assisting student publishing, exhibiting or performance.
  5. Other evidence of contributions to the research environment.
  6. Emphasis is also given to contributions to and development of Māori and/or Pacific research capability.

 

I suggest therefore, that depending on the material and orientation of a contribution to MAI Kōrero, that there is a pathway for its recognition through the PBRF process. May I conclude by inviting further discussion on this topic from people (like Meegan) who have a strong understanding of PBRF in the context of Māori and Indigenous ‘scholarly’ work.  There is uncertainty out there, and it would be good to reduce that so people can realise the additional value of their contributions.  Kia ora ra.

References

Hall, M. (2010).’Unpacking’ PBRF. Paper presented at the 3rd Leadership Symposium, Victoria University of Wellington, 1-3 September.