Research and Innovation Portfolio Positioning for Growth: Research support services for academic staff and HDR students Alignment of Research Support Services Project 22 February 2012

© RMIT University Research & Innovation Plan Our Vision – “RMIT research and research training is global, partnered, embedded in the urban environment and making an impact on the world” RMIT has committed to significantly growing the scale and quality of research and research training over the next five years.

© RMIT University Project summary to date Project launch – Sept 2011 Collection of information – Sept/Oct –Feedback from staff –Information regarding roles and responsibilities –Feedback from stakeholders Communication to staff and stakeholders - Sept/Nov –Website –Newsletters, s & Articles Development of ideas – Oct/Nov –Working Group meetings –Steering Committee meetings Decision making – Jan/Feb 2012

© RMIT University Feedback Staff and stakeholder consultation and feedback identified the following: Issues lack of clarity relating to process Processes too complicated or layered unsure where they can get assistance inequity between what is support is provided academic leadership management of research Positives dedicated staff initiatives eg HDR Conference & travel funds, workshops support for writing funding applications increased awareness of ethics approval requirements

© RMIT University Intended outcomes of this project Objectives To provide high quality, streamlined and efficient research support to staff and HDR students. To provide a high quality research services structure to professional staff. Outcomes Define and implement: standard business processes for research support services research support service level standards; and clear and standardised research support staffing structure.

© RMIT University Key decisions Research and research training related administrative processes owned by Research Office and SGR Research Office to: identify best practice administrative business processes for research services support clearly define, document and communicate central processes and service levels Resource appropriately SGR to: identify best practice administrative business processes for research training support Clearly define, document and implement processes and service levels in conjunction with Colleges and Schools Resource appropriately

© RMIT University Key decisions Colleges will: articulate their administrative support processes and service levels in response to the central processes support the research leadership of Colleges Deputy PVCs (R&) through an administrative team HR will: support the implementation of consistent accountabilities and classification where staff are undertaking similar functions. Research Office, SGR and Colleges together will: implement a new Management Committee strengthen/develop new informal networks

© RMIT University What does this mean? Lots of work identifying good practice, documenting and communicating business processes Meeting with your colleagues to discuss and resolve shared issues Review of Team structures Review and update of position descriptions to ensure consistency and match to role requirements Potential for a small number of changes in reporting line Support for professional development Any changes to staffing will be made in accordance to HR policy

© RMIT University Timelines DATEPROCESS DATEPROCESS Sept 2011Project launch with staff Sept – NovService and process review Consultation with stakeholders Late NovProposed structure and service levels presented to Steering Committee Feb 2012Communicate changes to staff Feb–JuneDocument Research Office business processes and review staffing structure Feb-DecDocument SGR business processes and review staffing structure June-DecDocument College Research Office business process Feb-DecHR to review and update PD’s

© RMIT University Project governance Steering Committee DVC R&I and Vice-President, Daine Alcorn (chair) College Deputy PVCs R&I, Brian Corbitt, Denise Meredyth, Irena Cosic (Felicity Roddick) Dean SGR, Denise Cuthbert Executive Director – RO, Lois Fitz-Gerald Project Working Group Executive Director – RO, Lois Fitz-Gerald (chair) Director Research Support and Performance Adela McMurray College Senior Managers Research Tania Tambiah, Lorraine Bridger, Caroline Northwood Senior Manager, SGR, Susanne Tzamouranis Senior Advisor - Planning June Anderson

© RMIT University Resources For information about the Project go to: For more information about change processes go to: Managing Major Change Policy