Research and Scholarship Policy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the parameters of research and scholarship activities conducted by Alphacrucis University College (AC) faculty, Higher Education Third Party Arrangement (HETPA) faculty, Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates and postgraduate research students, as well as the provision of resources required.

Scope

All faculty.

Policy

AC research and scholarship priorities are informed by the AC Strategic Plan and guided by the AC Research and Scholarship Plan. AC defines research and scholarship in accordance with the definitions outlined by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). AC conducts research within the guidelines of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.

Scholarship Activity

All AC and HETPA permanent and sessional faculty are required to engage in scholarship to maintain professional currency in the relevant discipline area(s) and in the teaching of these discipline area(s). These activities are to be reported annually, providing evidence of how knowledge acquired has been disseminated to audiences other than the readership of research publications (or an alternative explanation). The impact of scholarship upon and engagement with end users should also be demonstrated.

Scholarship encompasses both institutional and individual activities that contribute to the advancement of discipline knowledge and professional practice. Scholarship directly informs learning and teaching, including disciplinary scholarship, and contributes to the design and delivery of courses. Multi-disciplinary scholarship is encouraged, providing there is a clear link to teaching practice in the relevant subject. Engagement with scholarship includes:

• peer reviewed publications, conference presentations, and other communications;
• scholarly review or teaching practice activities that contribute to course development and review;
• synthesising and communicating advances in practice e.g. presentations, professional practice or learning and teaching in a discipline;
• teaching practice engaged in current ideas, debates and issues e.g. improved pedagogies, learning processes, curricula, academic policies and learning materials;
• contributions to relevant professional bodies or communities of practice e.g. development of new standards, knowledge resources, codes of practice;
• active and ongoing involvement in relevant academic societies, editorial roles or peer review;
• undertaking a HDR course;
• undertaking advanced specialised practice or scholarly secondments;
• creative performances that demonstrably inform learning and teaching, or supervision.

Scholarship does not include activities or professional development unrelated to teaching or supervision in the faculty member’s discipline of expertise. 

Definition of High Quality Research

AC defines high quality research as an authored or co-authored: book, book chapter or journal article published in a high quality research outlet. These are defined as follows: 

Faculty members with a research workload allocation are expected to be “research active” in their areas of disciplinary expertise.

“Research active” means either:

1. An academic who within the last 5 years has achieved 5 points including at least 1 point for peer-reviewed publications (pro-rata for part-time academic staff); or
2. An early career academic who has achieved an average of 1 point per year since conferral of a doctoral award.

Points are awarded as follows:

1. peer reviewed research monograph (5 points);
2. peer-reviewed journal article, published conference paper or book chapter (1 point)
3. editing a peer-review collection of essays in a book or journal (2 points);
4. publication of a major work of translation (1 point);
5. completion and performance or public exhibition of a major original composition such as a musical score or art exhibition (1 point);
6. research or professional industry grant (1 point per $10,000 to a maximum of 2 points);
7. supervised to completion a HDR candidate as a principal, co-supervisor, or associate supervisor (1 point per candidate to a maximum of 2 points);
8. Peer assessment (PhD examination, peer review of scholarly articles or book manuscripts, assessment of an external competitive grant application, publication of a book review in a peer-reviewed journal) (0.25 points; maximum of 1 point for book reviews)
9. peer reviewed conference presentation (0.5 point);
10. Other research activity not defined above and recognised by the Research Committee (1 point).

A publication with multiple authors will count as one publication for each author.

In determining research active status the objective indicators of the quality of the staff member’s outputs will be considered.

Principles of Faculty Research and Scholarship Allocations

AC is committed to supporting faculty research and scholarship through allocation of workload where appropriate. The principles of faculty research and scholarship allocations ensure that:

• activities reflect the mission and vision of AC;
• community engagement and social responsibility are embedded in the activity; all faculty members are engaged in scholarship activities;
• HDR candidates are provided with appropriate supervision;
• research allocations are prioritised for faculty members engaged in high quality research.

Research Incentives

Faculty members may be eligible for a monetary reward for each unique high quality research book, book chapter or journal publication within the relevant calendar year. Conference papers are not included in the definition of ‘publication’. Funds gained as research incentives must be utilised for research-related expenses only. Only publications that list AC as the applicant’s affiliation are eligible for an incentive.

Research and Scholarship Data Collection

All faculty are expected to report their research and scholarship through the annual Research and Scholarship Data Collection (RSDC) process coordinated by the AC Research Officer. This information is analysed and reported on through the annual AC Research and Scholarship Report.

Participation in Academic Assessment and Public Engagement

All research-active faculty are encouraged, in consultation with the relevant Head of School, to participate in opportunities for academic assessment, such as peer review of academic articles and books, ARC/NHMRC assessments, journal editing, committees of professional or academic peak bodies, academic conference organisation, and the like.

Responsible for implementation

Director of Research

Key stakeholders

All faculty, HDR candidates and postgraduate research students

---

Procedures

Research and Scholarship Procedure

---