Aims and learning outcomes for the modules

Settling in: The Researcher's Guide to Your University

Aims

The induction module Settling In aims to:

• explore the research context in your university;
• clarify the university's expectations for researchers and their activities;
• provide some useful tips and strategies to help you settle in;
• assist you in planning your meetings with significant support people;
• introduce some other elements of development that can greatly enhance your performance as a researcher.

Learning outcomes

After completing this module you should be able to:

• relate your research to the wider university and national research context;
• identify the different aspects of research practice with which you should be familiar;
• clarify your immediate research needs with respect to information, contacts and resources;
• develop and implement an induction strategy to ensure you have all of the necessary networks and information to get started efficiently and smoothly;
• identify suitable mentors who will be able to assist you, and manage a mentoring relationship to meet your current and future needs;
• commence the process of positioning yourself and your research in your new research community.

 

Module 1: Research Strategy and Planning

Aims

Module 1 aims to:

• assist universities in building research capability that demonstrates excellence and recognises and complements the larger strategic context;
• assist universities in building links with industry and other collaborative research communities and/or within a larger program of research;
• support and assist universities to carefully plan research to achieve the best outcomes for the researcher/s, the university and the furthering of knowledge.

Learning outcomes

After completing this module you should be able to:

• identify the strategic pressures affecting research in your university and how to take advantage of them;
• identify key steps in scoping your project proposal, including building an effective grant funding approach;
• implement a basic research project management process;
• develop a work breakdown structure; and
• prepare a research project plan.

 

Module 2: Commencement and Collaboration – Putting Ideas Into Practice

Aims

Module 2 aims to identify tools and resources relevant to the commencement of research projects and to define principles of project management in the context of research projects. It should also assist you to develop management and structure plans appropriate to the research project. The tools and methods learnt in this module will help you manage change and risks associated with research projects.

Learning outcomes

After completing this module you should be able to:

• identify what characteristics and skills you need from potential collaborators;
• identify the potential benefits and challenges of collaborations;
• understand the key elements of a plan and a budget for the research project (based on the funding available and required timelines) in order to manage risk and monitor the project;
• recruit the appropriate project team;
• identify the appropriate support units within your university that will help you commence and finalise contracts/agreements required by your research project;
• create the level of profile appropriate to the size and complexity of your project;
• finalise a procurement strategy and plan (infrastructure, materials & consumables);
• develop a communication strategy for the benefit of all stakeholders.

 

Module 3: Conducting Research Responsibly – Protecting Yourself, Your Research and Your University

Aims

Module 3 considers responsible conduct in research and how you can take maximum advantage of your university's governance and compliance requirements to build research strength and leadership. It aims to give you an understanding of the trust placed in people and in institutions that conduct research. You will also gain an appreciation that robust research requires integrity embodied in a commitment to intellectual honesty and personal responsibility for one's action.

Learning outcomes

After completing this module you should be able to:

• locate and recognise the codes of conduct for research that prescribe standards of work performance and ethical conduct expected of all persons engaged in research;
• understand the responsibilities of grant-holders;
• recognise the obligations to the university and community in undertaking publicly-funded and sponsored research;
• describe the situations where research requires approval by an ethics committee, safety committee, or other regulatory committee or authority;
• define what constitutes a failure to conduct research responsibly and major forms of research misconduct;
• identify key sources of information, advice, and further education on specific issues relating to research conduct.

 

Module 4: Intellectual property and commercialisation

Aims

Module 4 is designed to provide university researchers with an introduction to commercialisation. An emphasis is placed on ensuring the researcher gains a broad understanding and appreciation of the processes involved in identifying, protecting and packaging innovations for the market place. Such an understanding should provide a critical base for researchers wishing to participate in and appreciate the complex commercialisation process.

Learning outcomes

After completing this module you should be able to:

• define and differentiate the types of intellectual property;
• describe the nature of intellectual property management;
• outline the way to structure a research project to generate IP with commercial potential;
• summarise the ways to protect intellectual property on a daily basis;
• appreciate the issues relating to intellectual property ownership for employees and students;
• comprehend the broad commercialisation process;
• cite the pathways of commercialisation;
• identify sources of funding for commercialisaton;
• recognise specific roles researchers can play in the commercialisation process;
• identify the points at which a financial return can be realised;
• understand the profit sharing policy of your research institution.

 

Module 5: Financial, Resource and Risk Management

Aims

Module 5 aims to equip you with the financial skills to properly cost, manage and report on research projects for which you are responsible.

Learning outcomes

After completing this module you should be able to:

• prepare a realistic funding request for a project;
• prepare a budget for your project;
• correctly interpret a project budget statement;
• identify and manage risks and other issues that may arise during your project; and
• prepare a financial report relating to your project.

 

Module 6: Grant and Contract Administration

Aims

The aims of Module 6 are to:

• inform you about your obligations and responsibilities as the first-named CI/PI of a research grant or research contract;
• provide practical advice on how to manage research grants and contracts;
• give you an overview of the legalities and structure of research contracts;
• help you to think strategically about how to schedule tasks and outcomes for your new project while accommodating all the other activities in which you are involved.

Learning outcomes

After completing this module (and the topics from other modules from the program that are referred to) you should be able to:

• review a funding agreement or draft research contract and identify key issues that relate to the administration of your project;
• make strategic decisions about how to optimise your research outcomes within the constraints of time and funding limits;
• identify personnel issues that have the potential to impact on the progress of your project;
• design a plan for the management of your project that includes the preparation of a schedule of timelines, tasks, and outcomes for everyone involved in the project.
• identify sections in your institution that can assist in the administration of your research.

 

Module 7: Managing and Leading People in a Research Context

Aims

Module 7 aims to assist researchers to reflect on their preferred leadership style, the challenge of developing a context for creative research and the ongoing management issues within the distinctive research context of fixed-term employment and narrow time frames.

Learning outcomes

Upon completing this module you should be able to:

• identify the characteristics of an environment in which research teams flourish;
• understand the relevance of different leadership styles in a research context and the stages in team development;
• implement key characteristics of effective communication, negotiation skills, and team management;
• understand your responsibilities in creating a safe equitable workplace for the team;
• provide tools and skills for researchers to plan and monitor activities and meet the requirements of the research plan.

 

Module 8: Project Closeout

Aims

Module 8 aims to provide you with an efficient and structured approach to project closeout. This approach will enable you to meet minimum client/sponsor obligations and capture ways by which they can improve your future approach to overall research project design, development and implementation.

The module also aims to illustrate some of the different requirements of different project types that university researchers need to be aware of as well as the benefits of using the closeout process to identify future research opportunities and improved research practices.

Learning outcomes

After completing this module you should be able to:

• explain the benefits of closing a project properly;
• identify and describe obligations to a project sponsor/client from contract and project documentation;
• outline your obligations to the project team members when a project closes;
• structure a review and evaluation report for a project that has closed;
• make and prioritise recommendations for other activities that could be undertaken to add value to the research investment that has been made