You are here: Home / Academic Board / Committees / Links to Old Committees / Research Committee

Research Committee - Terms of Reference

Purpose

The Research Committee advises the Academic Board about Resolutions, policy and procedures relating to research at the University.

Terms of Reference

  • To advise the Academic Board and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) on the promotion of research, scholarship and other creative work both within the University and externally.
  • To promote research and research opportunities to members of the academic staff and to College and faculty research committees.
  • To develop, recommend to the Academic Board, and regularly review Resolutions, policy and procedures supporting the University’s strategic objectives in relation to research and identify resource needs arising from those policies.
  • To consult with Colleges and faculty research committees and with staff undertaking research on relevant aspects of their work when developing or revising Resolutions, policy or procedures.
  • To develop, oversee and monitor processes for the effective implementation of research Resolutions, policy, procedures and good practice, and identify resource needs arising from such policies.
  • To monitor issues relating to quality in research
    and research activities, and to make recommendations to the Academic Board as appropriate.
  • To obtain information or reports from any faculty, school or department, College, College or faculty research committees or other academic unit on academic matters relating to research.
  • To receive regular reports from, and provide advice to, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), on the development of Resolutions, policy and procedures relating to research.
  • To receive regular reports from the Research Office and the Business Liaison Unit and advise the Academic Board on the activities of bodies established to support research.
  • To provide an annual report on its activities under its terms of reference to the Academic Board.
  • To consider and report on any matter referred to it by the Academic Board, the Vice Chancellor or the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation).

Constitution

Ex Officio Members

  • the Chair of the Committee, appointed bi-annually by the Academic Board
  • the Chair of the Academic Board, or nominee
  • the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)
  • the Dean of Graduate Studies
  • the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee
  • the Director, Research Office
  • the Director, Research Development
  • the Director, Business Liaison Office
  • the Chair of the College Research Committee in the Colleges of Humanities and Social Sciences, and in the College of Sciences and Technology
  • the Director of Research and Development, College of Health Sciences
  • the President of the Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, or nominee

Appointed Members

  • up to five members appointed by the Chair of the Academic Board on the nomination of the Chair of the Research Committee.
  • one member of research-only staff appointed by the Chair of the Academic Board on the nomination of the Chair of the Research Committee

The appointment of members shall take into account the following factors:

  • high personal standing in the University in research;
  • current research activities;
  • University-wide perspective;
  • representative of the different types of University research activity (for example, pure and applied research, research based in a laboratory, library or fieldwork, individual and team research);
  • reflecting broad disciplinary clusters across the University; and
  • linkages to major research granting bodies eg. ARC, NHMRC.

The term of office of appointed members shall be specified at the time of appointment and shall not exceed more than three years. Such members shall have all rights and privileges of other members.

Co-opted Members

  • the Committee may co-opt up to four members. Co-opted members may be selected from the members of the Academic Board or the wider University community or may express interest directly to the Chair of the Committee, but must have an interest and/or experience in issues considered by the Committee. The term of office of members co-opted by the Committee shall be specified at the time of co option and such members shall have all rights and privileges of other members.

Frequency of Meetings

The Sub-Committee shall meet at least five (5) times a year.

Quorum

A quorum for a meeting of the Sub-Committee shall be four (4) members.

Approved/Revised

Academic Board, 16 October 2002

Committee Secretary

Nominee of the Director, Research Office