Community Conversation
Research & Innovation: An Impact-Driven Approach
RESEARCH STRENGTHS
Where can RMIT enhance, deepen and extend its research differentiation and where will we focus our efforts?
+ add commentSYSTEMATIC COLLABORATION
What methods and forms of collaboration can work best across fields, teams, sectors and networks? How should we build on and extend these partnered ways of working?
+ add commentMore cross disciplinary small group networking events which would facilitate introductions, like spe… See more
More cross disciplinary small group networking events which would facilitate introductions, like speed dating. People introduce their research interests, how they can contribute for example through their industry connections, followed by matching up to create productive teams of 4-5 people. These teams need to set priorities for research outputs in Q1 journals. See less
Facilitating hubs for cross-disciplinary research on specific research questions- especially across STEM/non-STEM divide
It is also important to note that the partners we want and need to achieve transformational impact m… See more
It is also important to note that the partners we want and need to achieve transformational impact may not exist – or existing partners may not be focused or capable in the ideal way. So we need to take an active approach to 'growing partners' too. Including via students!
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Work backward from the goal and be able to assemble collaborations and partnerships to give us the b… See more
Work backward from the goal and be able to assemble collaborations and partnerships to give us the best chance of having a positive impact without too much adherence to territorial boundaries. Design is a great synthetic practice and means of co-researching with people, institutions, communities etc. See less
Early engagement with industry and government is key to delivering impact beyond academia. Key strategic research partnerships/collaborations need to be grown
Capitalizing on world-leading research; to teach world leading concepts. Engaging world-experts within RMIT to teach on their own leading innovations
Utilisation of bilateral agreements with international partners (linking in with DFAT), to support R… See more
Utilisation of bilateral agreements with international partners (linking in with DFAT), to support RMIT's and Australia's growth in world-class research fields. See less
Thought leadership programmes supported by close interactions with external stakeholders through eit… See more
Thought leadership programmes supported by close interactions with external stakeholders through either providing solutions for extant problems/challenges, or developing futuristic thinking as risk management strategy —people connection very important See less
We need a targeted strategy for collaboration. Different size firms, or those from different sectors… See more
We need a targeted strategy for collaboration. Different size firms, or those from different sectors have different priorities and different enablers/barriers to collaboration. There is an opportunity to develop a targeted strategy that will put is ahead of other unis See less
Recognising our potential role as a facilitator among partners in some contexts – whereby our role i… See more
Recognising our potential role as a facilitator among partners in some contexts – whereby our role is to identify their shared interests and the benefits of them working together, and to be an advisor to them going forward. Increasingly universities are needed 'simply' as a forum to bring together other groups to accelerate positive action by then. From a social research perspective, this can then open up a range of important research opportunities too. See less
RESEARCH-INFLUENCED CAREERS
How should RMIT's systems and structures for managing academic workload, career development and industry partnership develop as part of this impact-driven approach?
+ add commentPromote the value of doing meaningful, impacting research. Areas of research that bring in funding s… See more
Promote the value of doing meaningful, impacting research. Areas of research that bring in funding should be prioritised. This means that disciplines which have been holding people back from attaining funding need to be transformed. For example, Accounting as a discipline lacks the attraction for funding. It has created unhealthy limitations. People from this discipline should be encouraged to transcend these boundaries. Disciplines need to be remarketed which would imply for example that Engineering ( which brings in a lot of research funding) is added to Accounting. Accounting and Accountability Engineering or Accounting technologies: does this sound more attractive than just Accounting?
Image is of critical importance for research influenced careers. Accounting is amazing as any measurement and reporting ( qualitative and quantitative), communications, accountabilities, policies, ethics: all come under the umbrella of Accounting and Accountability research. That is powerful. See less
Engagement is central to these ideas – diversity, First Nations First, community and industry connec… See more
Engagement is central to these ideas – diversity, First Nations First, community and industry connections and think through WIL in new ways (ie research partnerships even at under gradudate level). See less
The dominant assumption in government discourse is that universities need to do more to send student… See more
The dominant assumption in government discourse is that universities need to do more to send students out to industry yet many of our HDR candidates come to us from industry — we need to do more to tell this story of the bi-directional flow of ideas and expertise from industry to the university and back again. See less
Focus HDR on the key thematic areas that RMIT needs to advance institutionally.
We can have a role in improving the absorptive capacity of firms for research and innovation through our research graduate training program.
Flexibility related to RMIT priorities – i.e. teaching/research allocations to be more flexible
Enable HDR and fixed term researchers to remain connected with the university once their candidature… See more
Enable HDR and fixed term researchers to remain connected with the university once their candidature or contract with RMIT finishes, as it is often in the period following this that they are actually producing outputs of value for the Uni, yet they also lose access to RMIT email, libraries etc and implicitly get the message we are not interested in them anymore. Perhaps we could even have a 'staff alumni' group of some sort to maintain these valuable networks. See less
Make work-life-research-T&L balance realistic and equitable.
Sustainability ( Social and Environmental management) Accounting and Accountability is an excellent … See more
Sustainability ( Social and Environmental management) Accounting and Accountability is an excellent area of research which encompasses critical perspectives, applied research, field work, and a whole lot more. Technologies such as IoT serve as outstanding tools for measuring and reporting ( which accounting is). It would be great to bring together multi disciplinary teams led by Accounting researchers to drive forward impacting research in this space. See less
Tehmina K.
23 Mar, 2021 Report Report Reply Replyincreased attention required on research integrity and commitment to community based research leading to real world outcomes/ policy/ social change
Marnie B.
4 Mar, 2021 Report Report Reply ReplyI would like to see RMIT foster cross-disciplinary (Cross-school/cross-college)research teams on env… See more
I would like to see RMIT foster cross-disciplinary (Cross-school/cross-college)research teams on environmental/ecological problems especially between STEM & Humanities/arts disciplines- we are well placed to provide leadership in this See less
Linda W.
3 Mar, 2021 Report Report Reply ReplyEthical innovation
Magdalena P.
2 Mar, 2021 Report Report Reply ReplyVery early response. I think a simpler more focused high-level research framing may help people unde… See more
Very early response. I think a simpler more focused high-level research framing may help people understand RMIT's key contributions better. Something like: Future of society addressed through 3 interlocked thematics: digital transformation; climate change; and equity and inclusion. This would mean to me that initiatives that address climate change or that further transform society through digital applications should address and ideally improve equity and inclusion and climate change are not deemed successful; research that addresses climate change should harness digital and address inequity and inclusion- and so on. See less
Tim M.
2 Mar, 2021 Report Report Reply ReplyNot seeing a lot on respect, diversity, inclusion in our vision for research and research training.
Denise C.
2 Mar, 2021 Report Report Reply ReplyOur focus on applied research and research translation needs to be emphasised and strengthened.
Calum D.
2 Mar, 2021 Report Report Reply ReplyIt would be good to recognise the intrinsic link between research integrity and research impact in t… See more
It would be good to recognise the intrinsic link between research integrity and research impact in the NEXT strategy. Research integrity is also what forms the basis of trust between researchers, partners and the broader community we serve. The promotion and fostering of a culture of research integrity is forms should be an integral part of a Mission led University. See less
Anita A.
2 Mar, 2021 Report Report Reply ReplyMulti, inter and cross-disciplinary reserach
Magdalena P.
2 Mar, 2021 Report Report Reply ReplyA key differentiator for RMIT is to enable the drawing of capability from anywhere in the university… See more
A key differentiator for RMIT is to enable the drawing of capability from anywhere in the university to respond to opportunities or address challenges. The ECPs and associated Research Networks has been instrumental in unlocking our cross-organisational potential. See less
Calum D.
2 Mar, 2021 Report Report Reply Reply