Australian Council for Educational Research
Encyclopedia
The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), established in 1930, is an independent educational research organisation based in Camberwell, Victoria
and with offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Dubai and India. ACER provides learning tools for students, develops and manages a range of testing and assessment services for the Australian education community, and conducts research and analysis in the education sector.
. By the end of the 1930s ACER's total staff had expanded to five.
ACER was established with a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York
, a foundation itself established "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding". Although the Carnegie grants were to benefit the people of the United States, a small percentage of the funds could be used for the same purpose in countries that were or had been members of the British Commonwealth. The grant to establish ACER was made following a visit to Australia by American James Russell on behalf of the Carnegie Corporation in order to assess the state of education in Australia and investigate appropriate means of assistance.
The official title 'Australian Educational Research Council' was first selected, but then changed at the first council meeting held in 1930 to Australian Council for Educational Research, which has not changed again since.
ACER research is organised into ten research programs:
In addition to research, ACER's work includes fee for service testing programs such as scholarship selection, university entrance, psychological and human resources tests. Some of these are available online. Test scoring and administration services are also available. Tests, books and other materials are also published and sold through ACER Press for the education, psychology, human resources, parent education, special needs and speech pathology markets. The ACER Institute (formerly the Centre for Professional Learning) provides a range of professional learning seminars and manages ACER's annual Research Conference.
ACER administers a number of high stakes tests in Australia, including the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test
(UMAT), a requirement for studying medicine in Australia. About 20,000 candidates sit the UMAT each year, seeking entry into medicine or other health science courses including physiotherapy, dentistry
, oral health and pharmacy
.
(PISA) of the OECD, an international assessment of reading, mathematics and science, in which more than 60 countries currently participates. ACER has been engaged by the OECD to lead the first ever Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO) and to develop all of the new literacy tasks for the Programme of International Assessment of Adult Competencies.
ACER is also responsible for coordinating Australia's participation in the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement
's Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study
and Progress in International Reading Literacy Study. ACER has been involved in many other significant international studies and is a founding member of the Asia Pacific Educational Research Association (APERA) which links educational research organisations across the region.
ACER India has a close working relationship with the Central Board of Secondary Education
, including co-hosting an International Education Conference in 2011.
Camberwell, Victoria
Camberwell is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara. At the 2006 Census, Camberwell had a population of 19,637....
and with offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Dubai and India. ACER provides learning tools for students, develops and manages a range of testing and assessment services for the Australian education community, and conducts research and analysis in the education sector.
History
On 1 April 1930, two staff members, Ken Cunningham, the inaugural chief executive and secretary Mary Campbell, established ACER's first office in two rooms of the T&G building in central MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. By the end of the 1930s ACER's total staff had expanded to five.
ACER was established with a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York, which was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding," is one of the oldest, largest and most influential of American foundations...
, a foundation itself established "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding". Although the Carnegie grants were to benefit the people of the United States, a small percentage of the funds could be used for the same purpose in countries that were or had been members of the British Commonwealth. The grant to establish ACER was made following a visit to Australia by American James Russell on behalf of the Carnegie Corporation in order to assess the state of education in Australia and investigate appropriate means of assistance.
The official title 'Australian Educational Research Council' was first selected, but then changed at the first council meeting held in 1930 to Australian Council for Educational Research, which has not changed again since.
CEOs of ACER
| Chief Executive | Tenure | Notable contributions to education research |
|---|---|---|
| K.S. Cunningham | 1930–1954 | Chaired Social Science Research Council of Australia (1943–1952) |
| W.C. Radford | 1955–1976 | Edited Review of Education in Australia (1939–1964); Chaired committee to review of public examinations in Queensland Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean... and served on committee of inquiry into education in South Australia South Australia South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland... |
| J.P. Keeves | 1977–1985 | Editor of Educational research, methodology and measurement : an international handbook (1997) and Issues in education research (1999) |
| Barry McGaw | 1985–1998 | Director of Education of the OECD (1998–2005); Chair of the Board of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (2009-) |
| Geoff Masters | 1998–Present | Developed Partial Credit Model (1982); Undertook review of Queensland Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean... primary schools (2009) |
Organisational Structure
Today, ACER is an independent, not for profit organisation. ACER now receives no government funding — it is funded entirely through contract work, fees for services and product sales. It has over 350 staff working in its offices in Camberwell, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Dubai and India.ACER research is organised into ten research programs:
- Assessment and Reporting: Humanities and Social Sciences
- Assessment and Reporting: Mathematics and Science
- Higher Education
- International Surveys
- National Surveys
- Program Evaluation
- Psychometrics and Methodology
- Systemwide Testing
- Teaching, Learning, Leadership
- Transitions and Policy Analysis
In addition to research, ACER's work includes fee for service testing programs such as scholarship selection, university entrance, psychological and human resources tests. Some of these are available online. Test scoring and administration services are also available. Tests, books and other materials are also published and sold through ACER Press for the education, psychology, human resources, parent education, special needs and speech pathology markets. The ACER Institute (formerly the Centre for Professional Learning) provides a range of professional learning seminars and manages ACER's annual Research Conference.
Current Activities
In Australia, ACER's work and its researchers contribute to the shaping of education policy and discussions around a range of issues pertaining to Australian education, from the role of parents, the role of arts in education, teachers and school leaders, post-school education and training, tertiary students' engagement to public versus private education.ACER administers a number of high stakes tests in Australia, including the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test
Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test
The Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test is a test administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research in Australia and New Zealand to assist in the selection of students into certain health science courses including most medical and Dentistry courses, as well...
(UMAT), a requirement for studying medicine in Australia. About 20,000 candidates sit the UMAT each year, seeking entry into medicine or other health science courses including physiotherapy, dentistry
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
, oral health and pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
.
International work
After an early focus on Australian education, ACER now provides a range of services for an expanding number of international clients. A consortium led by ACER coordinates the Programme for International Student AssessmentProgramme for International Student Assessment
The Programme for International Student Assessment is a worldwide evaluation in OECD member countries of 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance, performed first in 2000 and repeated every three years...
(PISA) of the OECD, an international assessment of reading, mathematics and science, in which more than 60 countries currently participates. ACER has been engaged by the OECD to lead the first ever Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO) and to develop all of the new literacy tasks for the Programme of International Assessment of Adult Competencies.
ACER is also responsible for coordinating Australia's participation in the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement
International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement
The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement is an association of national research institutions and government research agencies related to education. The IEA is an independent organization. It was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Amsterdam...
's Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study
Trends in international mathematics and science study
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study is an international assessment of the mathematics and science knowledge of fourth- and eighth-grade students around the world...
and Progress in International Reading Literacy Study. ACER has been involved in many other significant international studies and is a founding member of the Asia Pacific Educational Research Association (APERA) which links educational research organisations across the region.
ACER India has a close working relationship with the Central Board of Secondary Education
Central Board of Secondary Education
The Central Board of Secondary Education is a Board of Education for public and private schools, under the Union Government of India.-History:...
, including co-hosting an International Education Conference in 2011.
Tests administered by ACER
- Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission TestUndergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission TestThe Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test is a test administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research in Australia and New Zealand to assist in the selection of students into certain health science courses including most medical and Dentistry courses, as well...
(UMAT) - Special Tertiary Admissions TestSpecial Tertiary Admissions TestThe Special Tertiary Admissions Test is a scholastic aptitude test, used for entry into undergraduate programs at Australian universities for people without a recent Australian Tertiary Admission Rank ....
(STAT) - GAMSATGAMSATThe Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test is a test used to select candidates applying to study medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary science at Australian, British, and Irish universities for admission to their Graduate Entry Programmes The Graduate Australian Medical School...
- HPAT-Ireland