From the PVC

I'm pleased to report that our Faculty Corporate Plan 2014 has been drafted and submitted to the University Executive for endorsement. I'd like to acknowledge the efforts of the Faculty Leadership Group in reviewing and reprioritising our Corporate Plan initiatives. The decisions arising from the recent Faculty Leadership Retreat discussions have helped to revise and shape our Draft 2014 Faculty Corporate Plan. You can view the Draft 2014 Faculty Corporate Plan on our Faculty Governance Blackboard site.

One of our 2013 Faculty Corporate Planning projects was to undertake an External Review of our 3 x Faculty Research Institutes. As per University policy, Professor Margaret Harris of the University of Sydney conducted the review for which a total of 17 staff submissions were received from both individuals and groups.

The subsequent report noted the important developmental role the Institutes have played to date, but recommended that the Faculty make changes to consolidate its research infrastructure.

As a result, all three Institutes have been disestablished and our research structure will move to three tiers of research concentration and support, reflecting strategic, established and emerging areas of research, all of which will be supported by a single Faculty Research Unit.

Consolidating our research and focusing on our distinctive strength areas will improve our ability to lift the profile of the important work that our Faculty researchers undertake. It will also help better position our researchers to leverage external funding and attract more post-graduate students.

You can read the Report of the Research Institutes External Review and the detailed Faculty Response on the Faculty Governance Blackboard site (refer to the Research Resources link). There is also an FAQ document that will be regularly updated over the coming weeks to reflect the key questions that arise during my meetings and discussions with staff.

John Germov