Procedures for establishing, reviewing, and disestablishing UWA Strategic Research Centres at The University of Western Australia

1. Establishing UWA Strategic Research Centres

1.1Institutional Research Centres 1.1.1 All applicants seeking to establish or renew an Institutional Research

Centre at UWA must complete the Proposal to Establish and Renew a UWA Strategic Research Centre at UWA form (see link below).

1.1.2 In the consideration of any proposal for the establishment of an Institutional Research Centre, the Research Committee must be satisfied that:

1.1.2.1 The Centre has the potential to be of demonstrable benefit to the University and the University’s research profile;

1.1.2.2 The purposes and objectives for which the Centre is proposed cannot be achieved reasonably within an existing University organisational structure;

1.1.2.3 The Centre can demonstrate financial viability for the initial operational term of the Centre, which would normally be five years.

1.1.2.4 The Centre must show evidence of support from the relevant School and have confirmation of wide consultation across discipline areas. For reporting purposes, each Centre should be clearly aligned with one School.

1.1.2.5 Additional funds for the purposes of the establishment or operation of the Centre can be obtained from external sources.

1.2 Collaborative Research Centres1.2.1 Collaborative Research Centres which result from successful applications

to major funding will be approved by virtue of the submission process for the application for major funding.

1.2.2 This application must be prepared with support from the Deans of the relevant Faculties, Heads of Schools, and in consultation with the Office of Research Enterprise and (as appropriate) with Legal Services. A successful submission to the funding Scheme results in the opportunity to form the Centre.

1.2.3 When an external organisation(s) and the University agree to establish an entity for strategic research purposes, these Collaborative Research Centres must comply with the policy and procedures of the University, as well as those as the external organisation(s).

1.2.4 For all types of Collaborative Research Centres, the University will provide support as required by the conditions of the collaboration or funding scheme.

1.2.5 A written agreement must be signed by authorised persons of the collaborating organisations and the University.

1.2.6 The Office of Research Enterprise must be consulted with regard to the collaborative agreement.

2. Responsibilities of Leaders of UWA Strategic Research Centres

2.1Centre Director or Node Leader

2.1.1 Each UWA Strategic Research Centre must have a Director who is a UWA staff member.

2.1.2 This Director will normally be appointed by the Executive Dean on the recommendation of the Head of School.

2.1.3 Where the Director is not employed at UWA, a university staff member will be appointed as Node Leader.

2.1.4 The centre leadership may be shared between Co-Directors or Co-Node Leaders.

2.1.5 If there are Co-Directors/Node Leaders, one Co-Director/Node-Leader may, at the discretion of the Dean, hold a non-salaried Adjunct academic position.

2.1.6 The Director or Node Leader:

2.1.6.1 is responsible for the appropriate management of the Centre in accordance with the Centre’s objectives

2.1.6.2 is responsible for any external contractual requirements

2.1.6.3 is responsible for the University’s policies and procedures

2.1.6.4 is responsible for the provision of regular and accurate financial reports

2.1.6.5 is responsible for the Research Centre budget including generating sufficient funding from sources such as research grants, commercial activities and philanthropic donations to support the activities of the Centre for its entire term. Any funding provided by the Faculty and/or School should be negotiated with the relevant Dean or Head of School;

2.1.6.6 is responsible for the salaries of staff whilst they are researchers in the Research Centre or for the fraction proportion of their time spent on Centre activities.

2.1.6.7 must hold a current, salaried employment contract with UWA that covers at least their initial term;

2.1.6.8 will devote at least 0.5 FTE of his/her time to the Directorship role and Centre activities, unless otherwise determined by external contractual requirements;

2.1.6.9 may be eligible for reappointment subject to consideration of relevant factors including their performance as Director and that of the Centre;

2.1.6.10 will appoint a Deputy Director, whose principal task is to serve as Acting Director in the absence of the Director.

2.2 Heads of Schools

2.2.1 Heads of Schools:

2.2.1.1 may approve the appointment of the Co-Directors or Co-Node Leaders and must clearly articulate the roles and responsibilities of each Co-Director/Node Leader.

2.2.1.2 must take action to ensure that the time that the Director devotes to the Centre is not detrimental to their activities in the School or Faculty, including teaching.

2.2.1.3 must integrate the Director or Node Leader into the governance of the School whilst ensuring that staff employed through the Research Centre assume responsibilities consistent with membership of the School.

3.Reporting and Review of UWA Strategic Research Centres

3.1Externally Reviewed Research Centres (normally Collaborative Research Centres and Affiliated Research Institutes)

3.1.1 Research Centres which are obliged to undergo an external review under a major funding scheme or other contractual requirement will not be subject to an additional review of the Centre by the School.

3.1.2 This decision is subject to both the satisfactory operation of the Centre and acceptable outcomes of the external review.

3.2Institutional Research Centres

3.2.1 Each Institutional Research Centre must report annually against the Centre Business Plan outlined in the guidelines. 

3.2.2 Where the Centre is not subject to a formal external review as a condition of establishment, each Institutional Research Centre will be required to undergo at least three (3)-yearly reviews. 

3.2.3 For these reviews, at least one member of the review panel will be both external to the University and independent of the Centre.  The Chair of the review panel will be (at least) independent of the Centre.

3.2.4 If the School responsible for the Centre undergoes a similar review, including the functions and viability of the Centre, the Centre may use this review as its formal review in place of an additional one.

3.2.5 If an Institutional Research Centre is deemed not to be performing against its Centre Business Plan, a recommendation must be made by the Head of the relevant School to the Executive Dean for consideration by the Research Committee according to Section 4.

4.Disestablishment

4.1Institutional Research Centres

4.1.1 Institutional Research Centres will be disestablished by the Research Committee after receiving advice from the Head of School and the Executive Dean of the relevant Faculty.

4.2Collaborative Research Centres

4.2.1 Collaborative Research Centres that no longer fit the description given in the Policy (UP07/05) may apply to become Institutional Research Centres.

5.Change of Names, Categories and Review Dates

5.1Requests for changes to the names of UWA Strategic Research Centres, category (Institutional or Collaborative) of Research Centres, and review dates must be submitted for approval to the Research Committee by the Executive Deans of the Faculties; unless otherwise determined by an external contractual requirement.

5.2 Any requests for changes of review dates to another calendar year will be subject to the endorsement of the Research Committee.