ResearchSupport Strategy
Research
The Changing Context ACU Rank ACU Strategic Plan PVC-R Support The Way Forward
ResearchTwo Recent Senior Appointments
Professor Julia Connell (Mar 29)Dean of Graduate Studies
Ms Anne Thoeming (Mar 22)Director of Research Services
Research: The Changing Context
•EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH AUSTRALIA (ERA)
•BRADLEY Report
•CUTLER Report
•COMPACTS
ERA InformationIn 2010 All eight clusters
Session dates and times Monday 19 April at 12pm Thursday 22 April at 10am Wednesday 28 April at 9am
Rooms for all sessions EP ACU Aquinas 503 EP ACU Mackillop 16 EP ACU Signadou 110 EP ACU St.Patricks 530 EP ACU Mcauley AC22 EP ACU Mount Saint Mary B
Proposed session outline Introduction (AD (R) or PVC(R) Presentation (Pauline or AD(R)) Context / importance (AD (R) or senior researcher)
Questions
5
Research ActiveA Research Active individual meets => 2criteria:1. In last 3 y, one of
1 X book 3 X book chapters3 X journal articles (or equiv)
2. In last year, grant =>$20,000 pa (ACU)
3. In last year, supervised => 1 X HDR completion.ORprincipal supervisor of doctoral or co-supervisor of at least 2 X HDR
OPVCR: Research Support Strategy
Resources /goals
Assess
Strategic Planning
Communication
Monitoring
Implementation
Completed
WIP
Research Resources
Responsibility
Research Resource Strategy: Implementation
Train current staff
DevelopStrategic Plan
Establish research foci
Recruit Strategically
Ensure synergy
Establish Steering Ctee
Completed
WIP
ERA: Research Overview
Research $$$ tied to quality research outcomes Productivity (# and quality) and grant income
The PAYOFF = Increased funding …….but some strings attachedIncreased
Financial transparency Competitiveness Reporting Expectations and Accountability
IS ERA IMPORTANT TO ACU?
YES! Because......Full funding for research DC+ICProvide funds for collaboration and
infrastructureReward quality outcomes with fundingMay be used to determine a
“university”
ACU:History- Tradition of excellent teaching- Comparatively reduced focus on
Research office Research support Research training Research productivity Research related rewards
ACU Research Status ACU Ranking (Williams 2007)
General Research Performance30/37
International Research30/37
2009 Trial: Research IncomeCat 1 Australian Competitive GrantsCat 2 Other public sector research
incomeCat 3 Industry and other research
income - Australian- International A (competitive, peer-reviewed)- International B
Cat 4 CRC research income
ACU: Total Research Income 04-08
2004 2005 2006 2007 20080
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
Total Income 04-08
A
B
C
Revenue from Australian Industry
2004 2005 2006 2007 20080
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Australian Industry$,000
ACU = A Research Opportunity
18
Research output of Australian universities: are the newer institutions catching up ? (R Williams, Aust. Univ Review. 2010 V52: 32-36
Annual rates of growth of research publications, Australian universities
Quartile ISI Scopus
Q1 (highest)
ACU, Ballarat, Bond, CDU, CSU, Curtain,
ACU, Ballarat, Bond, CDU, CSU, QUT
Q2 CQU, Deakin, GU, JCU CQU, Deakin, Melb U, Monash, UWS Woll U
Q3 Adelaide, ECU, Flinders, MqU, UTS
CanU, JCU, MqU, SydU, UNSW,
Q4 ANU, Canberra U, La Trobe, Murdoch, Newcas
ANU, Adelaide, ECU, FlinU, La Trobe, UNE
UNIVERSITY STRATEGIC PLAN2009 - 2011
Research concentration and selectivity
• Theology and Philosophy• Health• Education• Common Good and Social Justice
ACU = a Research OpportunityTargets by EOY 20111. Third quartile rank for research outputs2. Research income/ASFTE incr by 25% py
($3,877)3. Research outputs/ASFTE incr by 25% py
(0.41)4. Incr HDR Scholarships 15%/y5. Incr PhD enrolments 15%/y6. Incr Postdoctoral Fellows by 8%/y
Research Support StrategyResearch activation
Provide FundingInduce a research focusProvide
support trainingconfidenceculture
Induce Collaboration
Research productivity
Research Support StrategyInduce a research focus
Restructured Office of the PVC-Research Train
HDR Supervisors Researchers
Establish Steering ctee (Research Advisory Committee) Research Foci (Research Support Teams)
Strategically Recruit NEW Research Staff Senior Proven research Teams (5)Increase in HDRs
Research Resource Strategy: Implementation
Train current staff
DevelopStrategic Plan
Establish research foci
Recruit Strategically
Ensure synergy
Establish Steering Ctee
Completed
WIP
Corollary Support : Review
• all Policies re Research• UPRC • All ACU centres
Research Advisory CommitteeComposition
Representatives (2) ADRs UPRC (Directors) Senior researchers (ARC grantees) OPVCR (2)
RoleAssessment of Proposals for OPVCR FundingReview Research Plans of Research Support teams (15)Review other research proposalsMonitor Research Support Strategy
Timeline: Invitations to RAC May 3
Research Resource Strategy: Implementation
Train current staff
DevelopStrategic Plan
Establish research foci
Recruit Strategically
Ensure synergy
Establish Steering Ctee
Completed
WIP
Corollary Support : Review
• all Policies re Research• UPRC • All ACU centres
Establish research foci
Fund Research Support Teams (RST)
Seed Funding ($15 k) to 15 X RST Min of 3 personnel Support of Research Effort
Mandatory• Meet 20/y (brown bag)• Development of Research Plan (each
person + team)• Attendance by one member of team at
OPVCR sponsored training• Priority Access to ADRs, SPRT, ACU
leading researchers, RAC
Research Resource Strategy: Implementation
Train current staff
DevelopStrategic Plan
Establish research foci
Recruit Strategically
Ensure synergy
Establish Steering Ctee
Completed
WIP
Corollary Support : Review
• all Policies re Research• UPRC • All ACU centres
Recruit Strategically
Senior Proven Researcher Team (SPRT) Proposal:
Each Faculty will be requested to submit a research proposal to recruit an SPRT (5 personnel)
SPRT
2010 1 X SPR (grants and publication track record)
1 X ECR (grants and publications)1 X Post Doc
2011Add 2 X HDR
Research Support StrategyEnsure Synergy
Enhanced OPVCR RAC SPRT RST
Increased advice, training and support Post-grad Supervisor Training (current) Supervisor mentor program (current) Grant writing (Feb 4_2_10) Development of Research Plan Publication Strategy
Timetable
Date Task responsible Person
April 19-30
Final discussion of policies and procedures with ADRs
OPVCR/DoRS/DoGS
TM/AT/JC
May 3-10
Invitation to Research Advisory Committee members
OPVCR/DoRS TM/AT
May 3-10
Invitation to Deans to submit proposal for SPRT
OPVCR/DoRS TM/AT
May 3-10
Invitation to Faculty to establish SPR
OPVCR/DoRS TM/AT
May 10-31
Road Show/ Informational meetings
OPVCR/DoRS TM/AT /JC