CQUniversity Annual Report - Central Queensland University

CQUniversity ANNUAL REPORT 2012
The Industry, Vocational Training and Access Education Division has
actively promoted the University’s research agenda in 2012 and proudly
launched the Inaugural Dual Sector Research Symposium in November.
This two-day event was attended by over seventy delegates from
CQUniversity and CQ TAFE staff and external stakeholders from local
businesses and industry who engaged with and informed the development
of a Dual Sector Research Framework for the University.
In addition, the Academic Learning Services Unit (ALSU) has provided
15 places for their staff on a purpose-built research program – the
Scholarship of Teaching Research Program: Introduction to researching
your own teaching. The program aims to encourage and support the
research activity of the ALSU academic teaching staff. The scholarship
was launched in October and will support participants to develop their
research in 2013.
The Health Collaborative Research Network (CRN) was established
in 2011 with Commonwealth and University funding to develop
collaborative research partnerships between CQUniversity, the
University of Queensland, the Queensland University of Technology
and Curtin University. The Health CRN aims to develop synergistic
research relationships with larger metropolitan universities to provide
CQUniversity researchers access to larger facilities while providing
metropolitan researchers better access to health networks on the
ground in rural and regional communities. Under the auspices of the
Health CRN, CQUniversity has now hired four new Research Professors
in targeted areas of Health and increased the leadership development
capabilities across a range of disciplines. The Health CRN has also
established a CRN Mentor Program to support the Early Career
Researchers and provide professional development opportunities.
The Office of Indigenous Engagement has worked with the Health
CRN and other CQUniversity directorates to ensure that research
opportunities are inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people. This has resulted in the Health CRN engaging an Early Career
Researcher who identifi es as Aboriginal, and collaborative work
being developed and implemented between the Offi ce of Indigenous
Engagement and the Allied Health Clinic.
Additionally, the Office of Indigenous Engagement has hosted a series
of research seminars in 2012 that showcase the work of researchers
who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. These are
open to the public and have been well attended by a broad cross section
of university staff, external stakeholders and members of the public.
RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND FLAGSHIPS
CQUniversity’s diverse research areas are embedded within a
framework of research institutes and centres.
The Appleton Institute is a multidisciplinary research hub based
in Adelaide, combining excellence in research, teaching and
community engagement across a range of scientifi c areas
including sleep and biological rhythms, applied psychology,
occupational health and safety, human factors, risk
management and cultural anthropology.
In 2012, the Education Flagship, encompassing both the IERC
and LTERC, was strategically positioned within the fi eld of
education research at CQUniversity. The Flagship provides
multidisciplinary research capabilities and expertise in ethically
responsible, socially and culturally inclusive investigations
into learning and teaching. LTERC is now at the cutting-edge
of innovation using state-of-the-art visual tracking systems to
undertake new research, leading to Australia’s initial eye tracking
research methodology conference Eye Track Australia 2012.
The Institute for Resource Industries and Sustainability (IRIS)
provides multidisciplinary capabilities and expertise specifi cally
structured to meet the needs of the Australian business sector.
Research undertaken within the IRIS group of centres is very
diverse: non-invasive assessment in agriculture, marine biosecurity,
precision livestock management, ecological security laboratory and
applied economics are some examples of the relevant and valuable
research currently underway.
The Institute for Health and Social Science Research provides a focus
for multidisciplinary research that addresses the real needs of the
communities in which it operates, and informs the undergraduate and
postgraduate curriculum of CQUniversity. The primary focus of this
research is on informing, monitoring and evaluating programs, and
interventions and behavioural changes that promote healthy, safe and
viable communities.
The Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP),
purchased in 2011, has continued to grow as researchers occupy
the laboratories and offi ce space. The research hub is expected to
become a major regional research facility for research innovation in
Central Queensland.
29
REVIEW OF OUR ACTIVITIES