Five year review of research institutes procedure

Procedure

Intent

This procedure outlines a range of provisions relating to the external review of RMIT Research Institutes.

Scope

RMIT Research Institutes

Exclusions

Research Groups; Research Centres; Research Centres that are wholly externally funded or are a separate legal entity (refer to RMIT Research Structures Policy); Cooperative Research Centres; Centres of Excellence.

Procedure steps and actions

Procedure

Responsibility

1. Establishment of the External Review Panel

1.1 In accordance with the Establishment of Research Institutes Procedure (section 5 - Reports and Reviews), Research Institutes will be subject to an external review every five years.

1.2 The Research and Innovation Portfolio will maintain a schedule of review dates and will advise the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and Vice President, the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive (VCE) and the relevant Institute Director six months prior to the review date. Reviews will be conducted within the relevant calendar year.


Research and Innovation Portfolio

1.3 External Review Panel (“the Panel”) members shall be recommended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and Vice President, and approved by the Vice-Chancellor and President. The Panel will have a maximum of five members, including:

  • an external chair as nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation);
  • at least two external experts (one national, one international) from a relevant industry group;
  • at least one external member that has high international esteem in the relevant field

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and Vice President, Vice-Chancellor and President

2. Preparation of supporting documentation

The Research Institute shall collate and prepare documentation for the Panel. This documentation should include:

  • the Institute’s original Five Year Plan (refer section 1 - Establishment of Research Institutes Procedure);
  • annual reports and updated Five Year Plans for each of the years under review (refer section 5 - Establishment of Research Institutes Procedure);
  • supplementary material as requested by the Panel


Institute Director

3. The Review process

3.1 The Panel should review the documentation provided and, if necessary, undertake interviews with the Research Institute Director and the Institute’s Research Leaders Group (or Executive).

3.2 The Panel is required to assess and advise on:

  • the Research Institute’s achievements against performance measures identified in the Institute’s original proposal and Five Year Plan;
  • the appropriateness of the Research Institute’s activities and performance to the RMIT Research and Innovation Plan;
  • the Research Institute’s contribution to the overall research activity of the University;
  • any difficulties facing the Research Institute which may affect its future operation, including recommendations to address such difficulties

3.3 It is expected the review of documentation and development of a report will be completed within a one month period.


Panel Chair

3.4 If a Research Institute fails to comply with the Five-Year Review process within 5.25 years, the Research Institute will be closed by default (refer section 6 – Establishment of Research Institutes Procedure).

Vice-Chancellor and President

4. Preparation of the review panel report

4.1 The Panel shall prepare a report on its review of the Research Institute (refer Research Institute Review Panel Report template).

4.2 The Panel Report should include one of the following recommendations:

a) that the Research Institute be renewed for a period of up to five years;

b) that the Research Institute be reconstituted to better reflect changes in the field and/or to better support RMIT’s Research and Innovation Plan;

c) that the Research Institute be reconstituted as a Research Centre (see Establishment of Research Centres Procedure), or

d) that the Research Institute be closed (refer section 6 – Establishment of Research Institutes Procedure).


Panel Chair

5. Tabling of the review panel report

5.1 The Panel Report shall be submitted to the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive (VCE) for endorsement, and the Vice-Chancellor and President for approval of the Panel’s recommendations.


Vice Chancellor’s Executive (VCE), Vice-Chancellor and President

6. Outcome of the review

6.1 Once the Review Panel Report has been approved by the Vice-Chancellor and President, the outcome of the review should be communicated to key stakeholders, including College Research Committees, the RMIT Research Committee, College and School leaders and the RMIT community at large.


Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and Vice President

6.2 If the Research Institute has approval for continuation, the Institute’s next Annual Report will address how Review Panel recommendations have been implemented (see Research Structures Annual Report template).

Institute Director

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