Membership of Research Concentrations

• Membership criteria
• Application for membership
  

Over the last decade, UWS has sought to develop and consolidate its distinctive research strengths. Since 2001, UWS has been pursuing a strategy of research concentration and selectivity, building its capacity and the sustainability of its research.

The University has established a system of research concentration with a small number of flagship University Research Centres and University Research Groups. 

The University has, since 2001, been pursuing research development through focused support in specific areas of research strength. Important principles for our strategic research growth are:

• competitive excellence as identified through open processes, including peer review
• performance-based funding
• evidence-based policy development and performance monitoring, particularly the identification of research active staff.

In 2006, the Australian Universities Quality Agency concluded that 'UWS is pursing a research plan which is well considered and coherent [and] is on a sound trajectory for high quality research in areas that are particularly relevant to its mission'.

Membership criteria

The following criteria apply for membership of research centres and research groups:

• research active status (‘qualifies’ or ‘provisional’)
• research to be conducted offers an appropriate fit with the research program of the centre/group, to the satisfaction of the centre director/group leader
• minimum levels of achievement in external research income and research publication, as recorded with research services, with the suggested levels being $15,000 p.a. over the previous three years ($45,000) and the publication equivalent of 2 articles published in refereed journals, excluding E1 conference publications (a lower level of achievement should be set for early career researchers)
  

Note: Should a full member fall below this minimum level of achievement for two years running - their membership would lapse.

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Application for membership

Membership of research centres and research groups will be determined only on the basis of research activity registered annually with the Office of Research Services.

Research centres may also offer associate membership. Such associate members should be able to demonstrate a capacity to contribute to the research program of the centre to the satisfaction of the centre director.

The research performance of research centres and research groups will be measured on the basis of full members only.

Adjunct appointees to the University may also join research centres or groups. Adjunct and visiting appointments are governed by the Visiting and Adjunct Appointments Policy. Please also refer to the Research Centres Policy.

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