annual report/2006 - University of Melbourne

The strength of the University’s research
performance confirms Melbourne’s position as
“a leading national research university.
”
Professor
John McKenzie
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Performance Against 2006 Targets
Move towards world-significant research
Target
Outcome
Target
Outcome
Target
Outcome
Target
Outcome
Develop reliable information from the first round of research assessments, including strengths and weaknesses.
Put plans in place to improve where required.
Assessments have been made for all Faculties/Departments. More than 90 percent of academic units are in
the top three in Australia, and of those more than half are first. Areas of strengths and weakness for all units
have been identified. Every Faculty has developed a five-year research/research training improvement plan.
Begin to see increased research impact, including increased citation rates.
Mechanisms for increasing research impact and citation rates include a whole of university activity where staff
identified their top publications for quality and impact, activities relating to the implementation of the RQF,
workshops and budget incentive.
Increase research funding, particularly from overseas, and diversify sources of funding.
Research funding has increased from $208 million to $254 million. A Taskforce has been established to
investigate measures to improve business investment in University research. An International Grants Officer
has been appointed to assist in the generation of funds from international sources.
Each Faculty is to have in place a five-year target and interim targets for increasing research funding.
Each Faculty has identified annual targets for an overall five-year plan to ensure performance is on track.
Strengthen cross-disciplinary and collaborative research
Target
Outcome
Identify priority areas for cross-disciplinary investment and launch the Future Generation research campaign.
The Research and Research Training Quality Taskforce has recommended five areas for priority internal research
expenditure from the Strategic Research Initiatives Fund amounting to $12.5 million over three years. Three
further areas that may require further significant research investment have also been identified. Guidelines for
the Future Generation research campaign have been established and the selection process has begun.
Build future research capacity
Target Achieve satisfaction levels of research students in the QRF are at least 4.0.
Outcome An overall satisfaction score of 4.0 was obtained in the QRF.
Target Increase Research Higher Degree completion rates by 10 percent.
Outcome An increase of 10 percent in research higher degree completion rates has been achieved.
Target Put in place measures to address barriers to progression for women and staff in other equity groups.
Outcome Research opportunities have been included in the Staff Equity and Diversity Framework.
The University of Melbourne Annual Report 2006
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