Between 11 August and 22 September 2023, the Sector Reference Group (SRG) consulted with the sector on the Draft PBRF Guidelines for TEOs participating in Quality Evaluation 2026 and the Draft Guidelines for the Quality Evaluation 2026 assessment process.

The draft Guidelines included proposals relating to:

• the use of Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC) codes in the Field of Research field in the Evaluation Portfolio (EP)
• the addition of an EP Language field
• an update to the description of "Software" as a Research Output type.

The SRG also sought sector feedback on the way changes reflecting the TEC’s in-principle decisions are presented in the guidelines. These include the:

• Achievement Relative to Opportunity framework
• EP submission options
• new EP design, and
• adjustments to the assessment process reflecting these changes.

Following the consultation period, the SRG considered the feedback and made recommendations to the TEC for final adjustments to the Guidelines.

Full details of the TEC’s in-principle decisions and a summary of the feedback can be found at SRG Consultation Papers 2026.

These in-principle decisions will be reflected in the final Quality Evaluation 2026 guidelines, expected to be published on 30 November 2023.

For information on Quality Evaluation 2026 and the SRG, see Sector Reference Group (SRG) 2026.