Statement of Strategic Intent

Research and Graduate Studies Office - Statement of Strategic Intent 2008-2011

Role and Functions of the Research and Graduate Studies Office

The role of the Research and Graduate Studies Office (RAGSO) is to help the University achieve its strategic goals in research and research training by:

• Providing advice on policy development, as well as issues that arise, in research management and the management of research training.
• Coordinating and delivering training and development programs for researchers, research supervisors, and higher degree by research students.
• Providing high quality Executive support and / or administrative support to:
  • The management of research, including preparation for the Excellence in Research for Australia, and to the Institute for Regional and Rural Research and Innovation
  • The management of research training
  • Research ethics applications and approvals
  • External and internal research grant schemes
  • Institutional bio-safety compliance requirements
• Providing general support for researchers and pastoral care for higher degree by research students
• Managing the research database
• Collecting, monitoring, analysing and presenting in summary form, data on the University's research performance

RAGSO staff report directly to the Team Leader. The Director of the Institute for Regional and Rural Research and Innovation manages RAGSO. The Dean of Graduate Studies oversees research training. The Director and the Dean of Graduate Studies report to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Context

Major factors shaping the operating environment of the RAGSO are:

• The introduction of the Excellence in Research for Australia. RAGSO will play a significant role in the preparation for ERA, and lead the efforts in data gathering for the University's participation in the ERA.
• The continuing emphasis on improving the research and research training functions and performance.
  RAGSO will provide support for the activities to improve research and research training functions and performance.
• The University's Objectives, specifically:
  • Our Graduates - RAGSO plays a significant role in all aspects of higher degree by research training
  • Our Students' Learning - RAGSO plays a significant role in all aspects of higher degree by research training
  • Our Research and Knowledge Transfer - RAGSO plays a significant supporting role in the University achieving its targets, and in providing data on Key Performance Indicators.
• The increasing competition for research students.
  RAGSO will continue to pro-actively support the recruitment and retention of high-calibre research students.
• The increasing competition for research grants.
  RAGSO will be pro-active in coordinating improvements to the grant preparation processes, and increased support to researchers applying for grants, and researchers who hold existing grants.
• The University's review of its research and development of research strategy for the next five years.
  RAGSO will provide support to IRRRI in leading this effort, and administrative support to the associated activities.

Priority Areas

Priority areas for the short to medium term for RAGSO are:

• Preparation for the first cycle of the ERA (2008-2009). RAGSO will:
  • Upgrade the research database to provide an integrated data management and reporting system
  • Coordinate the integration of the database and electronic repositories
  • Coordinate the required collection of research data and development of individual researcher and research group portfolios
  • Provide high-quality administrative support
• RAGSO will assist the University to use the 2009 audit by the Australian Universities Quality Agency to highlight the University's achievements and prioritise future improvements in research and research training.
• To continue to develop high quality training and professional development for researchers, research supervisors and higher degree by research students.
• To support the University's efforts to improve its research performance and to provide high-quality data on Key Performance Indicators.
• To continue to promote a supportive, learning environment for its staff.

Download the Statement of Strategic Intent - Research and Graduate Studies Office 2008-2011 (PDF)