Research Strategy Options Workshop FECM Strategic Review 2009

Research Issues Summary - 1 Enhancing staff research quality Recruitment: high quality and performance, both Research and T/L “Tenure track” - seek potential research leaders - mentor All academics to engage in both research and teaching (varying %) Implication: need Faculty definition of “research active” Develop as high priority - inform policies (recruitment, promotion etc) Implication: policy regarding research appointments ARC APDs always on 4 year option (25% teaching) ARC QEII/Future Fellows - continuing appointments on good Res, T/L Implication: appropriate environment? e.g. mentoring program Support to maintain high quality Research – develop teaching expertise

Research Issues Summary - 2 Enhancing NCG success / ECA careers Grant writing encouraged by: Mentoring Recognition within workload calculations Successful senior researchers include juniors as CIs on grants Special situation of ECAs (both Research and T&R staff) T&R: need time, space, research seed funding to establish research Res: integration into broader Faculty including teaching program Mentoring – grants, career directions

Research Issues Summary - 3 Enhancing HDR supervision and research Essential for sustained high performance – our future More local HDR students (recent sharp decreases) Maintain growth in international HDRs Explore strategies for more industry funding of HDRs Consistent HDR policy across faculty Resources (such as conference travel support); encourage publications Role of postgraduate coordinators in Schools Encouragement of ECAs as co-supervisors Enhance HDR student experience Nurture peer support and staff interactions (beyond supervisors) Active seminar series

Research Issues Summary - 4 Integration of teaching and research Cutler Review Full funding of research will focus funding towards concentrations of research excellence identified by ERA Opportunity: Potential to sustain significant sized research centres Need to integrate within Faculty teaching program Requires true cost model of teaching Challenge: Minimise competition between business units Revenue neutral who coordinates particular course units Seamless integration of all academic staff, however employed Strong disciplined recruitment and a model that encourages collaboration without boundaries

Research Options Part 1 Faculty Research Model based on research centres Research centres for collaboration/supportive environment Teaching streams for education – across centres Establishment of a “Graduate Research School” Faculty co-ordinated activities and support for HDRs and their supervisors A new building to co-locate staff and HDRs Shared common room facilities Facilitate and encourage interaction between research centres

Research Options Part 2 Staffing options : Proactive recruitment through research fellowship schemes + mentoring program ARC: Laureate, Future and QEII Fellowships Individual workload assessments for each member of staff - drop distinction (T&L, Research) Teaching, Research and Service divisions Limit tenure/contract renewal Clear evidence of high quality research performance and longer term promise

Research Options Part 3 Student/Resource Options: Integration of later year students into Faculty research activities Including honours students Aim to increase the number of HDR students Target: twice the number of academic staff

Overview of Workshop 3 Rounds small group discussion – 20 mins each Open discussion at the end – 20 mins Table Distribution (tables of 4-6) Mix of Schools/Centres on each table Mix of levels on each table

Round 1: Faculty Research Model What is the best Faculty Research Model to promote existing and emerging research strengths and optimise research performance? 20 minutes of discussion Record discussions on discussion sheet

Round 2: Faculty Graduate Research School How could a Faculty Graduate Research School enhance postgraduate research outcomes and the postgraduate research experience in FECM? 20 minutes of discussion Record discussions on discussion sheet

Round 3: Enabling high research performance What mix of policies on recruitment, workload management, career support, and granting of tenure would best enable all academic staff to become/continue as high performers in research and teaching? 20 minutes of discussion Record discussions on discussion sheet

Round 4: Open Discussion 20 minutes open discussion Discussion on any aspect of the Research Options Paper

Faculty Review: Next Steps The Co-Chairs will consider the options paper in light of today’s feedback The recommendations will be consolidated with the other review areas to produce a singe review document This consolidated document will be presented to the Faculty for further feedback

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