Charles Sturt University (CSU) research is making a growing impression on the world stage according to the Australian Research Council's Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2015 outcomes released today.

ERA measures the quality of research produced by Australian universities against world standards and provides ratings of discipline areas in broad and specific fields of research.

CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann is extremely pleased with CSU's performance in the ERA 2015.

"Charles Sturt University's results are very strong and it is a credit to our research community and all those who support their work. They represent a great outcome for our regional communities and demonstrate that research leadership and innovation is right on our doorstep," he said.

"Since the last assessment by the Australian Research Council we have demonstrated an increase with five broad fields of research and 16 specific fields of research being evaluated at world standard or above. This is up from four and 10 respectively in 2012.

"We are particularly pleased to say Charles Sturt University's Horticultural Production field of research attained a 'well above world standards' ERA 5 ranking, which is the first time we have achieved this commendation," he said.

CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Development and Industry) Professor Mary Kelly said, "The ERA 2015 results are a strong indication of how far our research profile and quality has grown over almost a decade. I am confident that we have grown further since the end of the 2013 reference period and are well positioned to continue in a focused upward trajectory. 

"The diversity of the 16 specific fields of research which have achieved strong ratings is indicative of Charles Sturt University's teaching profile and represents a diversity of strength for our regions. We are also very pleased that as well as achieving increases, we have sustained solid rankings in core research areas," she said.

CSU's five broad fields of research evaluated at world standard or above (ERA ranking 3 or above) were Environmental Sciences, Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Engineering, Education, and Philosophy and Religious Studies.CSU also had 16 specific fields of research evaluated at world standard or above (ERA ranking 3 or above). Among these Curriculum and Pedagogy (within Education) and Applied Ethics (within Philosophy and Religious Studies) were ranked as above world standard (ERA ranking 4). Horticultural Production (within Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences) was ranked as well above world standards (ERA ranking 5).