The University of Queensland's Office of Research and Postgraduate Studies has a new structure following a review of the directorate conducted earlier this year.
The director of Research Services, Office of Research and Postgraduate Studies Jan Massey developed the new structure to streamline operational efficiency.
The new structure includes units specialising in research grants, postgraduate studies, animal welfare and ethics, and information management, and a research contracts office.
Review panel chair and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Paul Greenfield said the new structure would assist the Office of Research and Postgraduate Studies to meet significant changes in the external research funding sector.
"As a result of these changes, researchers are looking for greater assistance in accessing additional funds and funding schemes and in preparing high-quality applications," he said.
"The University itself has recently restructured, with seven large Faculties which will be expected to take increasing responsibility for their research performance. This implies the need for increased and easier access to research performance information and assistance to improve research output."
Professor Greenfield said other factors likely to affect the section's performance included reduced funding levels and increased demands from granting agencies for reporting information; and the University's recent establishment of a Graduate School.
He said the review praised the "excellent performance" of the section over the past 10 years and made a number of recommendations including the new internal restructure, to meet the needs of the new millennium. More than 70 people were interviewed, and 67 submissions were received.
Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said the level of commitment to research was one of the principal defining characteristics of the University of Queensland.
"The review is part of this University's initiatives to enhance its research quality and maintain significant gains," he said.
"In the past 10 years the University has improved its position from eighth to second in national research rankings."
Professor Hay said in June the University had attracted $40 million in external funding for the $55 million Institute for Molecular Bioscience, a development of national significance and wholly unprecedented within Queensland.
The University had joined Universitas 21, an historic international alliance of universities for the systematic sharing of information, experience and knowledge of best practice.
Initiatives such as the establishment of the Graduate School would also invigorate the services provided to the internal and external communities.
Deputy Director of the Graduate School and Dean of Postgraduate Students Associate Professor Alan Lawson said he welcomed the recommendation that the existing close links between Research and Postgraduate Studies be maintained and enhanced.
"The most attractive feature of UQ for most postgraduate students is its excellent research culture and the critical mass achieved by having such a large number of world-class researchers in so many areas of expertise," he said.
"It is also true that postgraduate students contribute in a major way to the University of Queensland's research output and reputation, so the recognition of the essential link between postgraduate study and research is very important for the UQ Graduate School."
For further information, contact Ms Massey, telephone 07 3365 3640
