Research revolution: New application to boost postgraduate research

The number of postgraduate research students at the University of Sydney is set to boost thanks to the new application Research Supervisor Connect (RSC). Launched on July 1, it is the first of its kind in Australia and will deliver the University a competitive edge in attracting more of the best research students.

RSC is a web-based tool for the recruitment of higher degree research students which includes an enquiry management capability. It allows prospective and current postgraduate research students to search for available research positions online using a keyword, research location, research topic or supervisor name. Once they locate a research project of interest, they can submit enquiries directly to supervisors online.

"It’s just like SEEK for PhDs!" says Michaela James, Postgraduate Marketing Coordinator. "Students can find all research opportunities or projects and academics can advertise their opportunities or projects all in one place."

The project is the first partnership of its kind between ICT Solutions Services and ThoughtWorks, a global IT consultancy that focuses on custom-made enterprise systems and innovative software production using Agile development methodology.

ICT’s Agile Development team worked in close collaboration with the University’s Research Office and Postgraduate Marketing team to complete the application. The teams met weekly to discuss new project outcomes and gain immediate feedback. This regular evaluation was key to allowing the team to shape the application to suit specific needs.

"Our students told us they wanted the University to have a single entry point for all research opportunities – something with a search engine that would help them find the right project," Michaela adds. "They wanted to learn about the opportunity and the supervisor without being overwhelmed with irrelevant information. And, when they found the right opportunity, they wanted to be able to make contact with someone there and then, and be guaranteed a response. That’s what we built."

View Research Supervisor Connect at:
http://www.usyd.edu.au/research/opportunities/

For more information, please contact:

Heath Cooper, Manager, ICT Agile Solutions
h.cooper@usyd.edu.au

Michaela James, Postgraduate Marketing
m.james@usyd.edu.au