University of Canberra : Research : Active Researcher Classification Scheme Guidelines

Background

The following definitions have been produced to facilitate the identification of staff active in research and research supervision, as part of the approach to defining designated Areas of Research Strength in the University of Canberra. The definitions generally work within research publications, research income, and higher degree by research (HDR) supervision as defined by DEEWR. It is recognised that other forms of research take place at and through the University. The classificatiion takes into account DEEWR reporting requirements, the UC Research and Research Training Management Report, the Tactical Plan for Research and Research Training Management, and the University’s records management systems.

The classification below was developed by the University Research Committee (URC) through discussion within and across Divisions, before being endorsed by Academic Board in May 2002. An amended version was approved by the Board in October 2002.

The URC decided upon five levels of classification.

RC0: Non-active researcher in DEEWR terms

RC0 staff fill one of the following criteria:

1. Modest engagement in research;

2. The staff member engages in scholarly and research work not currently counted by DEEWR as research publications or research income and is not supervising HDR students;

3. The staff member has made a positive decision to concentrate efforts on activities other than research at the present time.

RC1: Researcher Level 1

Researchers at level 1 will normally include early career, field change, career change or re-entry researchers, who meet TWO out of the three following criteria. Researchers may remain at this level for a maximum of 3 years:

1. The staff member is currently working on income-generating DEEWR-category publication or a funded research project;

AND/OR

2. The staff member has a plan negotiated with the Head of School progressively to increase research and research training track record, covering DEEWR category publications (currently scholarly Book, scholarly Book Chapter, fully refereed Conference Proceedings Paper, refereed Journal Article, refereed Design, Patent or Major Creative Work) reported to DEEWR and/or applications for approved external research income;

AND/OR

3. The staff member has qualifications appropriate to research or progress towards an appropriate postgraduate research degree for that discipline.

RC2: Researcher Level 2

A researcher at level 2 will normally have an appropriate postgraduate research degree and should meet AT LEAST ONE of the following criteria:

1. The staff member has two or more peer-reviewed research publications, preferably DEEWR classified (currently scholarly Book, scholarly Book Chapter, fully refereed Conference Proceedings Paper, refereed Journal Article, refereed Design, Patent or Major Creative Work) in the last three years, which are included in the University’s annual report; *

AND/OR

2. The staff member has acquired research income from internal or external sources in the last three years.

*NB For staff who have recently commenced employment with the University, and for the purposes of HDR supervisor registration of non-University staff, consideration will be given to peer-reviewed research publications not listed in the University of Canberra’s Annual Report.

RC3: Researcher Level 3

A researcher at level 3 will normally have an appropriate postgraduate research degree and should satisfy at least THREE of the following criteria: **

1. Two or more peer-reviewed research publications, preferably DEEWR classified, in the last three years;

AND/OR

2. Currently registered as a research supervisor and supervising one or more students at honours or HDR level (masters by research, professional doctorate by research or PhD);

AND/OR

3. One or more HDR student completions in the past three years as primary supervisor or as an active supervisor on a supervisory panel;

AND/OR

4. In receipt of DEEWR classified Research Income in the past three years as:

Principal Investigator (PI), joint PI or Associate Investigator on one or more grants classified by DEEWR as category 1: Australian Competitive Grants; or

PI or joint PI on Category 2: Other public sector competitive and non-competitive research funding; or

PI, Joint PI or Associate Investigator on DEEWR Category 3: Industry and other funding for research (including research consultancy contracts); or

recognised as CRC researcher in DEEWR Category 4: CRC funding.

**NB: Subject to approval by the University Research Committee, a researcher may be classified as a Researcher level 3 on the basis of excellence in criterion 1 (four or more peer-reviewed research publications, preferably DEEWR classified) or criterion 4 (significant research income) in a three year period.

RC4: Researcher Level 4

A researcher at level 4 will normally have an appropriate postgraduate research degree, should be a nationally and/or internationally recognised researcher and should satisfy ALL of the following four criteria: ***

1. Three or more peer-reviewed research publications, preferably DEEWR classified, in the last three years;

AND

2. Currently supervisor of one of more HDR students;

AND

3. One or more HDR student completions in the past three years as primary supervisor or as an active supervisor on a supervisory panel;

AND

4. In receipt of DEEWR classified Research Income in the past three years to a minimum of $20,000 in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences OR $100,000 in Science and Technology as:

Principal Investigator (PI), joint PI or Associate Investigator on one or more grants classified by DEEWR as category 1: Australian Competitive Grants; or

PI or joint PI on Category 2: Other public sector competitive and non-competitive research funding; or

PI, Joint PI or Associate Investigator on DEEWR Category 3: Industry and other funding for research (including research consultancy contracts); or

contributed 60% of time as CRC researcher in DEEWR Category 4: CRC funding.

***NB: Subject to approval by the University Research Committee, excellence in criterion 1 and/or criterion 4 may allow a researcher level 4 status.

Peer Review

Peer Review is defined as:

(a) for publication in Books, Book Chapters, Journals and Conference Proceedings, a process that involves assessment of the work:

In its entirety;

Before publication, and

By appropriately independent and qualified experts/or a commercial publisher accepting the work for commercial publication.

(b) for Patents a product or process for which a full patent has been granted on a primary filing only, by a National Patent Office;

(i) for refereed designs that have received an award as

the winner of a major design award offered by national or international organizations in the field, eg the Royal Australian Institute of Architects;

of at least national standard, with entries welcomed from throughout Australia or internationally.

(ii) for curated exhibitions of original design by an individual designer where the exhibition must:

be exhibited in a recognized independent gallery or museum (a recognized independent public or commercial gallery or museum which is an autonomous entity for which the core business is exhibiting designs and creative works)

be accompanied by a published catalogue identifying the individual designs, the name of the curator and the timing and location of the exhibition; and

be advertised in either the industry press, professional journals or State or national newspapers.

(d) Major original creative work

(i) for major written or research original creative works:

of at least 20 minutes duration if a film, play or musical score;

separately bound/packaged and offered for sale under the imprint of a recognized commercial press or publisher, or

recorded for commercial distribution

To be recorded for commercial distribution, the recording can be in any media such as CD, video, world wide web etc, but must be commercially distributed by an entity whose core business is producing creative recordings and distributing them for sale

(ii) For curated exhibitions, the work must be

Substantial collections of original work by an individual artist exhibited for the first time in a recognized gallery or museum (a recognized independent public or commercial gallery or museum which is an autonomous entity for which the core business is exhibiting designs and creative works)

Accompanied by a published catalogue identifying the individual works, the name of the curator and the timing and location of the exhibition, and

Advertised in the arts or State or national press, or in professional journals.