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D/1.1 Research and innovation framework |
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1.1.1 Background 1.1.1 BackgroundQUT's research policies are framed in the context of research policy in the higher education system, set by the Australian Government and major funding agencies such as the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). QUT has taken positive action to develop and diversify its research culture while at the same time continuing to build on its significant reputation as an institution of teaching strength and technology. An increased responsibility to promote its research and research training activities, commercial research and commercialisation activities to the benefit of the national and international community has required concentration and selectivity in the evolution of support initiatives and research infrastructure which incorporate evaluative review processes and concerns of equity and ethical conduct. QUT develops strategies to satisfy these responsibilities through its University Research and Innovation Committee and by way of an annual University Research and Innovation Plan which addresses overall University research policy and forms part of QUT's educational profile. More specific research management plans of academic organisational units and centres are prepared as part of the University's strategic management process. In relation to QUT's position in its social, cultural and economic environment, particular significance is attached to developing and promoting a research portfolio that supports strong interaction with the private and public sector, the professions and the community. QUT has traditionally close links with the industries which employ its graduates, and a history of collaboration through research, consultancies, and continuing professional education. Consultancy and continuing professional education of a high professional standard, and undertaken at local, national and international levels, is considered valuable in that it extends and enhances both the reputation of the University and the expertise of its staff. QUT is internationally recognised for its focus on 'real-world', applied research with a strong emphasis on industry linkages. Consequently, QUT has given rise to a significant portfolio of technologies which are commercially applicable, and in many cases industry backed. To facilitate technology transfer and commercialisation activities, the University has established qutbluebox. 1.1.2 External obligationsQUT must comply with various legislation relating to research, in particular:
1.1.3 Roles and responsibilitiesDeputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for the development and administration of University policy in the areas of research and allied activities within the Division of Research and Commercialisation. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) is the designated officer responsible for monitoring compliance with the QUT Code of Conduct for Research. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) holds ex officio the position of Chair of University Research and Innovation Committee. University Human Research Ethics Committee, University Animal Ethics Committee, QUT Institute Biosafety Committee and Intellectual Property Policy Committee are accountable to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) for their areas of activity. University Research and Innovation Committee University Research and Innovation Committee is a Council committee, accountable to University Academic Board for fulfilling its terms of reference, established to advise on research policy, strategy and planning. The Committee is responsible for academic policy relating to research (including research ethics), and research higher degree training (including issues of quality). Within the context of QUT's strategic management process, University Research and Innovation Committee is responsible for producing an annual Research and Innovation Plan which addresses the overall University research policy and forms part of QUT's educational profile presented annually to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). 1.1.4 Research and Innovation PlanQUT’s Research and Innovation Plan is an integral component of the University's Strategic Plan ( QUT Blueprint ) and underpins the direct planning activities related specifically to the attainment of the University's research goals. It is expected that the strategies and objectives outlined in the Research and Innovation Plan will flow through to faculty, institute and divisional strategic plans. Major continuing themes in research policy and management focus on the promotion of research excellence across all faculties and institutes based on:
The Research and Innovation Plan also outlines strategies and individual initiatives which address these themes and which incorporate the parallel aims of enhancing recognised research strengths of the University as well as supporting and encouraging the developing areas of research activity. In addition, the Research and Innovation Plan outlines a clear strategy for the protection and commercialisation of research outcomes generated by QUT staff. 1.1.5 Research fundingCommonwealth Block Grant Funding Australian universities receive Australian Government funding to support research and research training through block grants. The distribution of funding to QUT via block grant mechanisms is based on the University’s performance across research income, publications and Higher Degree Research (HDR) completions / load. University Research Budget The University Research Budget provides financial support to enable the objectives and strategies outlined in the top-level Research and Innovation Plan. Funding is available to support broad areas of activity such as:
Decisions on the annual distribution of the University Research Budget funding are made at the discretion of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation), subject to approved delegations of authority (see QUT Schedule of Authorities and Delegations ). Allocations may be made on a case-by-case basis to support large research consortia bids such as Cooperative Research Centres and Centres of Excellence or through competitive internal grant rounds. Access to funding may require matching cash contributions from faculties and/or institutes. External funding A significant component of the funding available to support research and research training activities at QUT is sourced through competitive grant rounds or through direct engagement with external partners (public, private or not-for-profit).; Depending on the type of activity, this funding is typically managed through one of the offices within the Division of Research and Commercialisation.Information on which office can assist with identifying external funding and managing projects is available on the Division of Research and Commercialisation website. External funding applications where QUT is identified as the administering institution require support and authorisation of the school / centre as well as the faculty / institute prior to submission to the external party for consideration. Support and authorisation will be considered in the context of:
Approval can be sought through the Office of Research. Applications which are not supported or authorised by the school / centre and/or faculty / institute may be withheld from submission by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation). 1.1.6 Research development supportThe Division of Research and Commercialisation, in conjunction with faculties, institutes and divisions, plays a key and critical role in developing and implementing a range of research development activities designed to enhance the competitiveness and professionalism of staff engaged in research and research training. Activities are normally designed with specific cohorts of staff in mind and typically focus on areas such as:
From time to time, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation), through the Office of Research, allocates funding from the University Research Budget to support activities that promote, build and retain research capacity and research infrastructure across the University. Internal research grant schemes are developed to facilitate the delivery of strategies and objectives identified in the current top-level Research and Innovation Plan. Identified areas of support include:
The Office of Research provides regular updates on internal and external funding opportunities that align with areas of institutional strength. In addition, the office provides specialised advice and assistance to individuals and research teams on a range of matters including grant application preparation, strategies for increasing competitiveness and attracting funding and general research grant management processes and practices. The Office of Research also collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to deliver a range of staff development seminars and workshops to assist new and experienced researchers to increase their competitiveness and to link productively with external partners. Information pertaining to internal and external funding opportunities and other information pertinent to pre- and post-award grant management can be found on the Office of Research website. The Office of Commercial Services supports staff and research teams with advice regarding commercial research, consultancies, continuing professional education, international projects and cooperative research centres.1.1.7 Definitions relating to research and innovationResearch is defined as creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge. ‘Basic research’ implies that the research may have no particular application in view. ‘Applied research’ sets out to solve practical problems and translate the findings of basic research into applications which will benefit industry, government and the community at large. ‘Applied research and development’ entail systematic investigation or experimentation involving innovation or technical venture, the outcome of which is new knowledge with a specific practical application, or new or substantially improved materials, products, devices, processes or services. Activities which directly support the applied research and development process (for example, industrial design, engineering design, production engineering, operations research, mathematical modelling and analysis, and psychological research) may be considered part of applied research and development. In the creative arts (performing, visual, literary and media arts), studio-based enquiry is a research equivalent activity where the outcomes of such enquiry extend the stock of knowledge and/or the artform itself. By the demonstration of this scholarship of discovery, research in the creative arts is distinguished from routine professional practice in the creative arts. Within this definition, artform-specific modes of presentation (eg exhibitions, performances, published literary works) are acknowledged as research publications. In practice, research workers combine basic research and applied research and development when solving problems, so that the usual term research and development encompasses the relevant aspects of the basic research and applied research and development processes. Sponsored research is defined as basic, strategic or applied research funded by an external agency through an application-based, competitive peer review process. This type of funding is awarded to, and administered by the University on behalf of a funding agency. Typically, the intellectual property generated through this type of endeavour is owned by the University. External partners (private, public or not-for-profit) may be involved in sponsored research projects as collaborating partners. Commercial research is defined as research or development which is conducted at the request of and paid for by individuals, agencies, companies or other organisations external to the University. It involves creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge. Commercial research is normally conducted on a contractual basis and payment for the research is made to the University. Consultancy includes all work (other than research and development) which is within the ambit of a staff member's professional and academic qualifications, experience and expertise and for which payment is made either to the staff member or to the University by any person or organisation other than the University. It usually comprises problem solving in specific social, industrial or commercial contexts. For QUT purposes, publishing and publication activities shall be regarded as scholarly activities associated with accredited courses or research, and not as consultancy. Outside work refers to any work, whether paid or unpaid, undertaken by a staff member for an outside entity, or in a self-employed capacity, where the work relates to the staff member's position at QUT. It does not include second jobs unrelated to the discipline in which the staff member is employed at QUT, or activities arising from personal interests which are not related to the staff member's position at QUT. Outside work is categorised as either 'university outside work' or 'private outside work'. University policies on outside work (academic staff) and outside employment (professional staff) are in D/7.1 and B/7.9 respectively. Chief investigator is defined as an academic member of staff who has the available time and capacity to make a serious contribution to the proposed project.; To be eligible as a chief investigator on a project an academic staff member of the University must be employed at a minimum of .5 full-time equivalent for the duration of the project and must take significant intellectual responsibility for the project. In exceptional cases, adjunct professors, emeritus professors and visiting fellows may be considered eligible to be chief investigators. Such cases will be addressed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the requirements of the external granting agency or commercial partner. Prior to submitting an application to an external organisation for consideration, it is the responsibility of the academic staff member to seek and obtain the support and approval of their head of school / centre director and/or faculty / institute. For QUT purposes, the first-named chief investigator on a project grant application will be considered the “Project Leader” responsible for managing the project on behalf of the University and ensuring the research program is undertaken in a manner that is consistent with the QUT Code of Conduct for Research. The first-named chief investigator is also responsible for ensuring that administrative and financial requirements associated with external funding are met in a timely manner. Active researcher is a staff member who has achieved, over the preceding three years, a minimum of three research outputs that contribute towards the University's earnings via the Research Training Scheme (RTS), the Institutional Grants Scheme (IGS), and QUT's research-related Operational Performance Targets (OPTs); a higher degree research (HDR) completion; a publication recognised by DEST; and generated external income. These outputs need to be achieved in at least two of the three years of any three-year period. Modification History
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