Objectives

The broad aim of AAIR is to benefit, assist and advance research which leads to the improved understanding, planning and operation of tertiary education institutions within Australasia.

AAIR has the following principal objectives:

to raise the level of professional competence and practice—in both qualitative and quantitative analysis—within the fields of tertiary education institutional research, planning and analysis in the Australasian region
to enhance inter-institutional cooperation in the undertaking of comparative institutional research projects to assist the professional development of members by:
- organising an annual conference (the AAIR forum)
- developing and fostering cooperative links with the AIR and European AIR
- encouraging regional meetings of members to augment the annual Forum.

AAIR pursues its objectives through the following range of activities:

informing its members on a diverse range of topics through a monthly electronic newsletter
holding seminars on current issues, and conducts workshops on techniques of institutional research and analysis, to update the knowledge and skills of members and other professionals
organising an annual international conference (the AAIR Forum) to bring together experts and professionals to promote the exchange of ideas and developments in the field of institutional research
published a professional journal, the Journal of Institutional Research, to provide a forum for discussion and for the dissemination of ideas and research findings
defining a statement of values setting out expectations for the professional conduct of institutional researchers.

To encourage professional participation by new institutional researchers, AAIR offers a ‘New Presenters Award’ which is aimed at supporting attendance at the AAIR Forum.