About the University of Adelaide's Research Environment

Overview
Research Integrity, Compliance & Governance
Ethics & Compliance
Alignment to National Research Priorities
International rankings
Group of Eight

Overview

At the heart of the University of Adelaide’s vision is a commitment to excellence, and our belief that research intensity and innovative, high quality teaching have a symbiotic relationship that underpins and characterises the finest universities in the world. Since its establishment in 1874, the University has developed a reputation for excellence in research and today the University of Adelaide is one of the top research universities in Australia.

The University has a distinguished track record and is a destination of choice for highly talented researchers and academics with major strengths in Agriculture, Environment, Social Innovation, Mineral & Energy Resources, Health & Biomedical Science, Sensing & Computation, and the Fundamental & Enabling Disciplines. We are expanding our research performance by investing in excellence, and by exploring new, innovative ways of collaborating that will ensure we generate high quality research outcomes closely aligned to state, national and international research priorities. The University has recently established five world-class research institutes, a number of these in partnership with government and industry. The Institutes, comprising a research community of over 1,200 staff and students, bring together world leading researchers, supported by modern infrastructure and an innovative culture to tackle grand challenges and research priorities. Relevance and quality are the ongoing drivers of the University of A delaide’s research initiatives, aimed at delivering real results which contribute to both Australian and international social, economic, cultural and environmental wellbeing. Our research performance is fundamental to an outstanding research training environment, producing highly skilled graduates who will be future leaders in their chosen field.

The University will actively support the development of world-class research in an increasingly competitive environment, both nationally and internationally. This goal will incorporate a strategy of targeted support for research excellence with the aim of developing, where appropriate, large scale research groupings and partnerships that are internationally competitive. We will increase the level of strategic investment in selected areas of research strength, strategic importance and competitive advantage. Our research performance will contribute to an outstanding research training environment which will produce highly skilled graduates with the potential to be future leaders in their chosen field.

Examples:

The Chief Investigators research program will capitalise on the unique opportunities and environment available at the University of Adelaide, aligning with the University's mission to increase our international focus in areas of research strength by developing our research partnerships, and extending our engagement with other institutions, government and industry."

"This area of research has been identified as a key strategic area for growth and investment by the University of Adelaide and the State Government"

"This proposal aligns with the University's strategic research planning, whereby XXXX is recognised and supported as an emerging research strength. More specifically, within our Faculty, the proposal aligns with recognised Faculty strengths in XXXX."

See Research Strengths

Research Integrity, Compliance & Governance

Integrity is a concept of perceived consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcome. Responsible research is encouraged and guided by the research culture of the University of Adelaide, which demonstrates:

• honesty and integrity
• respect for human research participants, animals and the environment
• good stewardship of public resources used to conduct research
• appropriate acknowledgment of the role of others in research
• responsible communication of research results.

Responsible conduct of research

The University of Adelaide has formally adopted the principles embodied in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research. The Code promotes integrity in research for researchers and explains what is expected of researchers by the community.

The University of Adelaide's Responsible Conduct of Research Policy was formally approved by the Vice-Chancellor & President on 14 August 2009. This Policy applies to all staff, students and affiliates of the University of Adelaide who are involved in research practice associated with the University. This Policy formally adopts the principles embodied in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and needs to be read in conjunction with the Code.

The University of Adelaide has implemented internal processes for monitoring compliance with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research in consultation with Faculties. Incidences where non-compliance with the Code is identified may lead to the use of research misconduct procedures.

Research Misconduct

The University acknowledges the importance of dealing with all allegations of research misconduct in a fair, transparent and serious manner, and accepts the need for a rigorous framework to deal with these matters. The basic approach is always to seek resolution at the local level, only escalating the case where resolution has not been achieved.

For University staff, the process outlined in the University of Adelaide Collective Agreement for allegations of general misconduct, must be adhered to for all allegations of research misconduct. Internal complaints are reported to the DVC(R), and external complaints to the Vice-Chancellor. University procedures for dealing with research student misconduct are contained in the Rules for Student Conduct in the University. Internal complaints are reported to the Dean of Graduate Studies, and external complaints to the Vice-Chancellor.

Research Integrity Advisers

As part of the University’s implementation of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, a new position of Research Integrity Adviser has been established. This initiative relates to Part B of the Code, which provides institutions with direction on how to respond to an allegation that research has not been conducted responsibly.

The Code’s framework for receiving and resolving allegations states that institutions must appoint one or more senior staff members as advisers in research integrity. Advisers are to be people with research experience, wisdom, analytical skills, empathy, knowledge of the University’s policy and management structure, and familiarity with the accepted practices in research.

The adviser can be approached in confidence to advise a staff member, student or affiliate who is unsure about a research conduct issue and may be considering whether to make an allegation. The adviser will discuss the matter, the Code and the policies and procedures of the University, and explain the options for taking action. The adviser must not make contact with the person who is the subject of the allegation, and he or she must not be involved in any subsequent inquiry, nor be involved in a case if he or she has a relevant conflict of interest.

This initiative is intended to complement the process outlined in the University of Adelaide Collective Agreement for allegations of general misconduct, which must be adhered to for all allegations of research misconduct. Internal complaints are reported to the DVC(R), and external complaints to the Vice-Chancellor. The basic approach remains always to seek resolution at the local level, only escalating the case where resolution has not been achieved.

University procedures for dealing with research student misconduct are contained in the Rules for Student Conduct. Internal complaints are reported to the Dean of Graduate Studies, and external complaints to the Vice-Chancellor.

We have seven advisers: one from each Faculty, as well as additional advisers based at the Waite Campus and the Roseworthy Campus.

Ethics and Compliance

All projects involving the use of humans or animals for teaching, research or experimentation, must obtain ethical approval from the University of Adelaide’s ethics committees. Such research must comply with the requirements set out by government legislation and guidelines. Compliance activities are facilitated by the following:

• Institutional Biosafety Committee
• Human Research Ethics Committee
• Animal Ethics Committee
• The Animal Welfare Officer

Animal Ethics Committee

The University of Adelaide is licensed under the Act to acquire and use animals only when approval has been granted by its Animal Ethics Committee (AEC). No animal may be held or used for any purpose until written approval has been obtained from the AEC.

All University personnel who wish to use animals for teaching, research or experimentation must obtain ethical approval from the University of Adelaide AEC prior to any use or involvement with animals, irrespective of where they are located, where animals may be housed or used, or of the source of funding. All student projects must receive University of Adelaide ethical clearance.

The AEC must ensure that all animal care and use is conducted in compliance with the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes - 7th Edition 2004 (the Code) and that it incorporates the principle of the three R's - Replacement, Reduction and Refinement.

The University has 6 formal policies that direct the use of animals for scientific purposes:

• Laboratory Animal Services Policies and Procedures
• Use of animals in undergraduate teaching
• Policy on the use of post-operative analgesia in experimental animals
• Policy on metabolic crate use for sheep
• Rodent breeding and weaning policy
• Methods of Mouse Identification Policy

Animal Welfare Officer

The Animal Welfare Officer is part of the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research) and is responsible for providing clinical veterinary services and monitoring animal welfare in the University. The officer promotes awareness of best practice in the care of animals and ensures standards required by the University and the Australian Code of Practice are observed and that decisions of the Animal Ethics Committee are complied with.

Human Research Ethics Committee

It is necessary for all persons associated with the University of Adelaide to obtain appropriate ethical clearance for any activity involving human research.

The University of Adeaide provides support ti ensure that human research complies with the:

• National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007)
• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Values and Ethics - Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research
• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Guidelines Under section 95 of the Privacy Act 1988
• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Guidelines approved under Section 95A of the Privacy Act 1988

University staff and students must be aware of and adhere to the following guidelines in the practice of their research:

• Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2007
• In addition researchers should refer to National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Guidelines which is being continuously updated.

Human research is research conducted with or about people, or their data or tissue. It can be broadly understood to include: taking part in surveys, interviews or focus groups; undergoing psychological, physiological or medical testing or treatment; being observed by researchers; the collection and use of participants' body organs, tissues or fluids and access to their personal documents or other materials. However, other research activity with humans as participants may come within the Human Research Ethics Committee's (HREC) area. Research investigations of doubtful status should be referred to the HREC for consideration.

Alignment to National Research Priorities

The University has a distinguished track record spanning basic research to commercial outcomes, and has major strengths in strategic areas aligned with National Research Priorities, including:

International rankings

The University of Adelaide is consistently ranked within the top 1% of universities worldwide. This is based on the Times Higher Education, QS and Jiao Tong Rankings.

Times Higher Education Supplement

The University of Adelaide was ranked within the top 201-225 Universities in the world in The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2011-12. The University of Adelaide is also ranked exceptionally highly across a range of specific subject areas.

These rankings have been developed in concert with a new rankings data provider, Thomson Reuters, with input from more than 50 leading figures in the sector from 15 countries across every continent, and through 10 months of extensive consultation.

The rankings of the top universities across the globe employ 13 separate performance indicators. These 13 elements are brought together into five headline categories, which are:

Teaching - the learning environment (worth 30 per cent of the overall ranking score)
Research - volume, income and reputation (worth 30 per cent)
Citations - research influence (worth 32.5 per cent)
Industry income - innovation (worth 2.5 per cent)
International mix - staff and students (worth 5 per cent).

Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)

In 2010 the University of Adelaide was ranked within the Top 201 - 300 Universities in the world by the Academic Ranking of World Universities.  

The ARWU is based on:

Group of Eight

The University of Adelaide is a member of the Group of Eight, a coalition of leading Australian universities, intensive in research and comprehensive in general and professional education. In 2008, the Group of Eight earned almost 80% of the research income of Australian universities and produced over 50% of all research publications.

The Go8 exists to:

• enhance the contribution of is member universities to the nation's social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being and prosperity
• extend the contribution of its member universities to the generation and preservation of the world's stock of knowledge
• strengthen Australia's capacity to engage in and benefit from global developments, respond to global and local challenges
• expand opportunities for Australian students, regardless of background, to participate in higher education of world class

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