2007 Annual report (PDF 8.1 Mb) - University of Melbourne

RESEARCH &
ReseARCH TRAINING
Research Collaboration
Strategic Priorities
> Promotion of increased use of standard
research agreements to make it easier
and quicker to commence collaborative
projects
> Implement the recommendations from
the Business Investment in Research
Taskforce (BIRT) report to the R&RT
Committee
Achievements
In 2007 research management focussed
on enhancing research collaboration,
and responding to the Business
Investment in Research Taskforce (BIRT)
recommendations. As a result the costing
and pricing policy for research. A steering
committee was established to ensure that
the University’s Find-An-Expert facility
provides internal and external users with
user-friendly, accurate and current details of
research expertise.
In addition, the Melbourne Research Office
(MRO) promoted use of standard research
agreements to facilitate the commencement
of collaborative research projects. A new
website, a marketing campaign (including
information seminars on research
contracts and standard agreements) and
the implementation of a revised system
for measuring and reporting contributed
to standard form agreements accounting
for 10 per cent of all research agreements
administered by the MRO – a considerable
increase over previous years.
Intellectual Property
Strategic Priority
> Develop and implement a
comprehensive Information and
Education Program for staff and
students about the revised Intellectual
Property Statute and new IP Principles
Achievements
In 2007 a comprehensive program was
introduced to educate staff and students on
the detail of the revised Intellectual Property
(IP) Statute and new IP Principles. New
information resources and modifications
to IP-related procedures and processes
included a new University IP website, an
online summary of IP management at
the University, updated MRO research
brochures and revisions to publications for
supervisors, prospective and enrolled PhD
students, honorary University appointees
and visitors.
International Research
Collaboration
StRAtegic Priority
> Appoint academic staff to act as
International Research Collaboration
Advisors
Achievements
The latest available comprehensive data
related to international funding indicates an
increase by 13.6 per cent to $17.1 million
for 2006. To further enhance this growing
area of research focus for the University, in
2007, international research collaboration
advisors were appointed to identify funding
and collaborative opportunities for research
with designated countries and regions. To
encourage the development of international
collaborative networks, the University
established the International Research
Planning Workshop Awards, increased
its commitment to the Awards for Joint
Research Projects Scheme and the Visiting
Scholars Awards and participated in the
Go8 Australia-Germany Joint Research
Cooperation Scheme.
Other funding highlights for international
research activities in 2007 included:
> $1.176 million from the Liverpool School
of Tropical Medicine for two health-related
projects;
> $783,318 from the Australian Centre for
International Agricultural Research for the
assessment, management and marketing
of goods and services related to native
forests in Papua New Guinea;
> $716,328 for two Australia-India Strategic
Research Fund Grants in the areas of dairy
and environmental research;
> a near doubling of ARC Linkage
International support to $673,046 (for
commencement in 2008), the highest
level of support to a Go8 University;
> $640,920 from Pfizer Pty Ltd;
> $596,430 from Vitrolife Sweden AB;
> $590,920 (as a member of the Australian
Centre for Plant Functional Genomics)
from the DEST European Union
Framework Fund for the mapping of the
wheat and barley genomes for cereal
improvement; and
> $382,670 from the DEST International
Science Linkages Program for engineered
quantum information in diamond.
Implement a comprehensive
plan to achieve the best
possible outcomes from
dest’s research quality
framework
In 2006, DEST indicated that the Research
Quality Framework (RQF) – an initiative
designed to assess the quality and impact of
research in Australia as a basis for allocating
future infrastructure funding – would
be implemented in 2008 with financial
consequences beginning in 2009. Although
the RQF was cancelled in December 2007,
the detailed preparation undertaken for this
exercise helped the University to better
understand its research performance.
Internal RQF Preparations
Strategic Priorities
> Establish an RQF Strategy Taskforce and
an RQF Support Team
> Appoint senior researchers to lead each of
the 13 broad discipline clusters (panels)
> Develop and implement an RQF
Communication and Education Program
> Develop strategies to support women
researchers
> Participate in further consultations with
DEST to develop the best possible
RQF, including through working group
membership, submissions and RQF trials
> Conduct small-scale internal pilot
elements of the RQF, e.g. deciding on
Research Groupings, preparing Impact
Statements and drafting Context
Statements
Achievements
To provide high-level strategic advice
for this major undertaking, in 2007 the
University established an RQF Strategy
Committee chaired by the DVC (Research)
and comprised of 12 senior academic and
professional University staff together with
two external members.
Across the University senior academics
were selected as coordinators of panels
corresponding with the 13 broad DEST
disciplinary panels.
After wide consultation, an RQF Code of
Practice on the Preparation of the RQF
2008 Submission was developed to ensure
fairness, consistency and transparency in
developing the submission. The University
community was kept informed of all RQF
developments through a comprehensive
Communication and Education Program.
The University of Melbourne Annual Report 2007 25