Institutes and Research Centres

[Print-friendly version]

QUT recognises four tiers of research activity, which are defined in the MOPP as:

• Tier 1 Institutes
• Tier 2 Externally funded centres (collaborative centres)
• Tier 3 Faculty research centres
• Tier 4 Research groups/nodes/laboratories/programs

View Proposed Responsibilities for Centre and Institute Directors

View a list of current QUT Institutes and Research Centres (updated July 2009).

Institutes

The University’s Research Institutes fall under the organisational hierarchy of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation).

Strategic Planning and Reporting Requirements
Institutes are required to comply with the University’s strategic planning and reporting guidelines, which include the preparation of five-year strategic plans, workforce plans, and the identification of risks and opportunities.

Under the University Planning Framework (MOPP A/2.2) institutes are required to prepare annual reports which are aligned to the calendar year. Each institute is required to submit their annual report to the University, via the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation), by the 30 November each year.

Completed annual reports are then forwarded to the sponsors of the University’s top-level plans whereby institute highlights are extracted for inclusion in the University’s published annual report.

Corporate Reviews
Institutes will be reviewed in accordance with the University’s Corporate Review processes on a five-yearly cycle and will be assessed against a set of review criteria.

Application to establish an Institute
Proposals to form institutes should be discussed at an early stage with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation). Following wide consultation across the University and approval to present a formal case for establishment of an institute, the proposal will be assessed by University Research and Innovation Committee for recommendation to University Academic Board, which recommends to Council.

Research Centres

Faculties are responsible for monitoring the performance of their research centres in terms of how well they achieve their objectives.

Research centres are no longer required to produce an Annual Research Centre report. Further details will be available shortly.

Quinquennial Review
Every five years a Research Centre is required to undergo a review which involves assessment by a panel and external reviewers.

Nine copies of the Quinquennial Review Submission must be submitted to the Office of Research by 1 July for those Centres scheduled for a quinquennial review.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Commercialisation) will forward recommendations to the University Research and Innovation Committee for consideration and then to the University Academic Board.

Research Centre Application
Research areas that would like to be considered for Research Centre Status should consult with the Office of Research and submit 9 copies of the Research Centre Application by 1 June.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Commercialisation) will forward recommendation for research centre status to the University Research and Innovation Committee for consideration and then to the University Academic Board for approval.

Proposed Responsibilities for Centre and Institute Directors

The attached document provides a compilation of basic duties for Research Centre Directors and Institute Directors. A fit-for-purpose position description must be developed in consultation with the Human Resources Department.

Faculties