Research and the University
Research describes any critical and creative activity undertaken on a systematic, disciplined basis and dedicated to increasing knowledge. The results of research therefore take many forms. Research can contribute to knowledge directly through discoveries, or otherwise through innovative ideas and techniques, conceptual refinements, or constructive critiques and syntheses which extend existing knowledge or its applications.
| We live in a time of accelerating technical change in which innovation is a major driver of economic growth and its consequences, including the standard of living and the quality of life offered by society. As governments come to recognise the importance of innovation, attention is focusing on the national innovation system – the organisations that are involved in the innovation chain, from idea through to development and prototyping to new products in the marketplace, and the way these organisations interact. The key function of a national system of innovation is to promote learning by its players, and this framework has been termed the learning economy. The universities have a major role in a learning economy, through the provision of education generally and more particularly as a source of innovation through research and research training. |
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Universities exist to serve the community and research that makes a difference is an essential part of that service, responding not only to the economic imperative but to other needs of society. Research is therefore important in a university for many reasons, but four are particularly noteworthy. First, the advancement of knowledge is intrinsically important. Second, university teachers must be practitioners of their art and an active research program is a particularly effective way of ensuring this. Third, one of the unique responsibilities of higher education is advanced research training to ensure a continuing supply for international quality researchers. Fourth, undergraduate teaching and learning at a higher education level are enhanced by association with the research process.
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Deakin University is committed to basic as well as to applied research – curiosity-driven research is particularly appropriate for research training. We have a responsibility to students to be a custodian of higher learning across a wide range of subject areas, and to maintain a basic research capability across the major disciplines in which our scholars teach. However the University encourages research that makes a difference in the community, which means a particular emphasis on research that grows from collaboration with business, industry and community organisations and responds to their needs. Because it leads to research of greater relevance Deakin University favours partnerships with these bodies, in which the partners work together. |
.It is a goal of the University to have an active research culture associated with every major discipline that is taught. An active research culture means a significant number of staff who are active and successful in research, with a steady stream of research output in the form of discoveries and inventions, international publications, invited presentations and conferences and exhibitions, and other forms of output appropriate to the discipline. It means a working environment in the University where everyone is aware of the excitement of research activity, even if they are not a direct part of it, and where current research projects are common topics of conversation in corridors, tea rooms and wherever people meet to talk.
| Research management at Deakin University seeks to provide an environment in which research is encouraged, in which all scholars wishing to engage in research have opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities, and once assessed by objective criteria or appropriate peer evaluation, continue to have access to research support. |  |