Graduate Research Scheme

Background

Following a review of the University’s internal grants schemes, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research has decided to establish a fund from 2005 called the Graduate Research Scheme. It is proposed that $200,000 will be allocated to this scheme from central funds each year, comprising $80,000 from the DRS which will be discontinued and $120,000 from former MRG funds. The latter is the amount that it is estimated is currently spent on projects which involve research students from MRG funds.

A recent meeting chaired by the Deputy-Vice-Chancellor decided that the funding would be divided among the faculties according to an agreed formula and that each faculty could decide how it was to be allocated to support the research activities of their research students.

One option available to faculties is to allocate the funding via a competitive funding scheme. The purpose of this paper is to outline generic policies applying to such a scheme. A generic application form is available from the Graduate Research School.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the JCU Graduate Research Scheme (GRS) are to:

1. 1.

   Support research of excellence by students.

2. 2.

   Ensure that funds flow to outstanding students and that the funds are used to cover project costs.

3. 3.

   Enhance the capacity of research doctoral and masters candidates.

Matters to be decided at the Faculties’ discretion.

1. 1.

   Faculties may decide to hold one or two funding rounds per year.

2. 2.

   Faculties can decide the maximum grant per student and the maximum number of grants a student can be awarded during his/her candidature.

3. 3.

   Faculties can nominate the purposes for which the funds can be spent with the following provisos:

1. a)

   Schools must sign that they can support the proposed project of a research student when they accept him/her. They also agree that they will implement the JCU Minimum Resources Policy which requires each school to set aside a pool of funding equivalent to a minimum of $1,000 per HDR EFTSL per annum, to support the research costs of their research students. Schools should not accept students in the expectation that they will receive funds to support specific projects under the Scheme.

2. b)

   Relevant research costs outlined in the Minimum Resources Policy including substantial support towards attendance at a national conference (only for PhD students presenting a paper) will not be eligible.

3. c)

   If a PhD candidate can demonstrate that the School has already funded him/her to at least one national conference under the Minimum Resources Policy, an application for attendance to a national conference to present a paper may be considered for co-funding (from GRS and School).

4. d)

   Students may be eligible to apply for a Graduate Research International Travel Award to attend an international conference.

Conditions of award

1. 1.

   The grant is awarded for the calendar year and funds should normally be spent within that time.

1. 2.

   Carry-forward of funds beyond 31 December in the year of award of the grant will require permission from the Chair of the Faculty Research Committee and the Dean of Graduate Research Studies.

1. 3.

   Grants will be made in the form of a grant-in-aid for the project with a statement specifying how the funds may be spent.

1. 4.

   Funds granted may not be spent for purposes other than those detailed in the original application unless the written permission of the Chair of the Faculty Research Committee has been obtained.

1. 5.

   All grant funding is subject to occasional audit by the University’s Internal Auditor.

1. 6.

   Under no circumstances should retrospective requests for support be considered, as to do so would contravene the University's audit requirements. For the purposes of this Scheme, a retrospective request is defined, as a request made for funds that have been spent or committed before the candidate has been advised that the funding has been awarded.

Reporting requirements

1. 1.

   Each faculty must provide a report to the JCU Research Committee and the Board of Higher Degrees by Research as to how the funds allocated under the Scheme have been spent, by November each year.

1. 2.

   Grant recipients must submit a report within 4-6 months of end of the period for which the grant was awarded. The report should comprise a one-page account on the use of the funds, their value to the thesis project and any resultant conference presentations or publications.

Amended by Academic Board 19.09.05, 31.07.06