Policy overview
1 Purpose
To establish the framework under which the University manages and enables Research Activities.
2 Scope
This policy applies to all Researchers.
3 Policy Statement
In support of the UniSQ Research Plan, this policy outlines the Research environment and culture in which Research is undertaken at the University. For further details on expected standards of conduct, please refer to the Research Code of Conduct Policy.
This policy aligns with:
- Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021: Standard 4.1 Research
4 Principles
The University is committed to promoting high-quality, ethical Research that aligns with the ambitions of the University's Strategic Plan and Research Plan to drive industry and community engagement and deliver high-impact Research outcomes.
The University upholds focussed, high-quality Research and Research Training as an integral part of academic work that contribute to excellence in industry growth, innovation and sustainable communities.
The University's Researchers will:
- comply with the standards specified in the Higher Education Standards Framework;
- promote and contribute to a Research culture of excellence, integrity, professionalism and mutual respect;
- conduct ethical Research and responsible Research practices in compliance with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018;
- meet the occupational health and safety standards necessary for the type of Research being undertaken;
- align with the ambitions of the University's Strategic Plan and Research Plan to drive industry and community engagement in the delivery of high-impact Research outcomes;
- contribute to the production and promotion of high-quality Research outcomes;
- participate in peer review in a way that is fair, rigorous, timely and maintains the confidentiality of the contents; and
- secure external funding as required to support relevant Research Activities.
The University will enable this by:
- establishing and maintaining appropriate governance and management practices for the responsible conduct of Research, in accordance with relevant regulatory, ethical and scientific standards;
- setting and monitoring institutional standards for Research performance and facilitating effective development, implementation and review of support and training mechanisms to ensure maintenance of the standards;
- providing workload allocation for Employees who conduct Research that is commensurate with their Research Activities, the operational needs of the University, external obligations to funding bodies, and performance benchmarks in their field;
- acknowledging that Research with First Nations Peoples or collections spans many methodologies and disciplines, and there are wide variations in the ways in which First Nations Peoples, communities or groups are leading, active in, or affected by, Research;
- establishing (under the authority of the Vice-Chancellor) external and internal Research institutes and Research Centres, on the recommendation of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation). These Research institutes and Research Centres are managed and monitored as outlined in the Research Entities Procedure;
- encouraging the use of, and participation in, peer review to support the publication of high-quality Research Outputs and the submission of high-quality funding applications;
- supporting Open Access of Research findings and encouraging the publication and wide dissemination of Research, to promote scholarly dialogue and contribute to public knowledge; and
- supporting the responsible conduct of Research through the establishment of ethics and biosafety committees, and other relevant administrative support, committees and working groups as required.
5 References
Nil.
6 Schedules
This policy must be read in conjunction with its subordinate schedules as provided in the table below.
7 Policy Information
| Accountable Officer | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) |
| Responsible Officer | Director (Office of Research) |
| Policy Type | Academic Quality Policy |
| Policy Suite | |
| Subordinate Schedules | |
| Approved Date | 10/9/2024 |
| Effective Date | 10/9/2024 |
| Review Date | 16/11/2026 |
| Relevant Legislation | Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018 Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2017 Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 Higher Education Support Act 2003 National Code of Practice for Providers of education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 |
| Policy Exceptions | |
| Related Policies | Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Policy Animal Wellbeing and Ethics Policy |
| Related Procedures | Commercialisation of Intellectual Property Procedure Human Research Ethics Procedure Integrated Planning and Performance Procedure Intellectual Property Procedure Research Code of Conduct: Management of Potential Breaches Procedure |
| Related forms, publications and websites | |
| Definitions | Terms defined in the Definitions Dictionary |
| Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) The person bearing that title including a person acting in that position....moreThe person bearing that title including a person acting in that position. Open Access scholarly works are freely available via the Internet, permitting any person to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full text of these articles, crawl them for indexing, pass them as data to software, or use them for any lawful purpose, without financial, legal or technical barriers....moreOpen Access scholarly works are freely available via the Internet, permitting any person to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full text of these articles, crawl them for indexing, pass them as data to software, or use them for any lawful purpose, without financial, legal or technical barriers. Research is the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include the synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative....moreResearch is the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include the synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative. Refers to activities that result in the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts, methodologies and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it leads to new and creative outcomes....moreRefers to activities that result in the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts, methodologies and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it leads to new and creative outcomes. An output is an outcome of research and can take many forms. Research Outputs must meet the definition of Research....moreAn output is an outcome of research and can take many forms. Research Outputs must meet the definition of Research. A formal course of postgraduate study that leads to the acquisition of advanced skills, techniques and knowledge in the conduct of Research, and requires the production of a substantial original Research Output....moreA formal course of postgraduate study that leads to the acquisition of advanced skills, techniques and knowledge in the conduct of Research, and requires the production of a substantial original Research Output. The Strategic Plan developed by the University, as required under Section 8(1)(a) of the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019....moreThe Strategic Plan developed by the University, as required under Section 8(1)(a) of the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019. The term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland....moreThe term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland. The person bearing the title of Vice-Chancellor and President, or as otherwise defined in the University of Southern Queensland Act 1998, including a person acting in that position....moreThe person bearing the title of Vice-Chancellor and President, or as otherwise defined in the University of Southern Queensland Act 1998, including a person acting in that position. | |
| Definitions that relate to this policy only | |
| Keywords | |
| Record No | 21/464PL |