Boundary making and strategy making in knowledge-forming organisations. Government policy is devoted to bettering linkages between university research and commercial product development in the knowledge economy. Yet little is known of relationships between university and non-university knowledge forming organisations (KFOs) and what policies and resources sustain and adjust the border between them. Different countries approach these issues in distinctive ways, in part because of public policy, i ....Boundary making and strategy making in knowledge-forming organisations. Government policy is devoted to bettering linkages between university research and commercial product development in the knowledge economy. Yet little is known of relationships between university and non-university knowledge forming organisations (KFOs) and what policies and resources sustain and adjust the border between them. Different countries approach these issues in distinctive ways, in part because of public policy, in part through different endogenous dynamics. Using case study research in five countries, the project will identify ways the division of labour between different KFOs can be optimised, while sustaining their respective strengths, and maximising the opportunities for strategy and innovation.Read moreRead less
Academic networks and performance frameworks: Comparing the impact of policy on knowledge generation across disciplines and countries. Australian universities are central to the infrastructure that develops and fosters human talent and encourages innovation, through producing research, providing training, and transferring the knowledge they generate to government and the Australian community. This proposal falls with National Research Priority 3 - promoting an innovation culture and economy. It ....Academic networks and performance frameworks: Comparing the impact of policy on knowledge generation across disciplines and countries. Australian universities are central to the infrastructure that develops and fosters human talent and encourages innovation, through producing research, providing training, and transferring the knowledge they generate to government and the Australian community. This proposal falls with National Research Priority 3 - promoting an innovation culture and economy. It will provide an essential framework for immediate use in examining the consequences of the new research performance and funding arrangements being introduced in 2007, and assessing the impacts of policies that encourage collaboration. The comparisons with three other countries with similar policy goals will generate insights on how policy can best support knowledge generation.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the Technology Transfer Capability of Australian Univerities. This project aims to assist in achieving enhanced University capability in technology transfer which is regarded by government as cruicial to improving national innovation performance. I seeks to identify the determinants of effective technology transfer and provide in-depth understanding of the social process involved in transferring both inventions and associated scientific knowledge from universities to corporationss. Emp ....Enhancing the Technology Transfer Capability of Australian Univerities. This project aims to assist in achieving enhanced University capability in technology transfer which is regarded by government as cruicial to improving national innovation performance. I seeks to identify the determinants of effective technology transfer and provide in-depth understanding of the social process involved in transferring both inventions and associated scientific knowledge from universities to corporationss. Employing a contingent effectiveness model, the research will focus on the characteristics of the transfer agent, the transfer recipient, the transfer medium, the transfer object and the demand environment. Results and recommended strategies will be communicated to university and industry managers and government officials.Read moreRead less
Working students: reconceptualising the doctoral experience. Doctoral education is traditionally conceptualised in policies and practices as about young, full-time students with no work or related commitments. However, nowadays, doctoral candidates constitute a diverse population working in various institutional, community and industry sites. Government, universities and students' associations need to reconceptualise contemporary doctoral candidates' working relationships to enhance doctoral edu ....Working students: reconceptualising the doctoral experience. Doctoral education is traditionally conceptualised in policies and practices as about young, full-time students with no work or related commitments. However, nowadays, doctoral candidates constitute a diverse population working in various institutional, community and industry sites. Government, universities and students' associations need to reconceptualise contemporary doctoral candidates' working relationships to enhance doctoral education and to realise its full potential in society. Using quantitative and qualitative approaches, the project breaks new ground through two related comprehensive and systematic studies of the doctoral-working experiences of full-time and part-time students. It will generate new conceptual frameworks, and tools for data collection and analysis.Read moreRead less
The transformation of higher education in Australia and the Netherlands: a comparative study of adaptation in the post-industrial era. The project seeks to improve understanding of how higher education institutions respond to and increasingly turbulent/fluid environment. Comparatively grounded, the study examines how Australian and Dutch higher education institutions interpret environmental pressures (including government policy) and translate this into strategic responses, such as through the f ....The transformation of higher education in Australia and the Netherlands: a comparative study of adaptation in the post-industrial era. The project seeks to improve understanding of how higher education institutions respond to and increasingly turbulent/fluid environment. Comparatively grounded, the study examines how Australian and Dutch higher education institutions interpret environmental pressures (including government policy) and translate this into strategic responses, such as through the formation of strategic alliances with other institutions. The project provides information of theoretical and practical use on how higher education institutions operate in an increasing complex social, political and economic environment and better informs oplicy makers and institutional leaders alike about the intricacies and unintended consequences of the interaction of policy, environment and institutional behaviour.Read moreRead less
Investigating mismatches between Australian international graduate destinations and skill shortages. This project examines the extent to which Australias current skills shortage can be addressed by changes to the training and recruitment of international graduates from Australian universities. Australia does not employ its international graduates to the extent that other countries do (eg USA) despite the fact that these graduates have necessary professional skills, are familiar with Australian c ....Investigating mismatches between Australian international graduate destinations and skill shortages. This project examines the extent to which Australias current skills shortage can be addressed by changes to the training and recruitment of international graduates from Australian universities. Australia does not employ its international graduates to the extent that other countries do (eg USA) despite the fact that these graduates have necessary professional skills, are familiar with Australian culture and have studied in English. This project will inform the evidence base on the successful recruitment and employment of skilled international graduates into the professions. This study identifies the inhibiting factors and proposes solutions for universities, government, employers and graduates.Read moreRead less
The Enterprise University as Networked University: Investigating the contribution of Australian higher education institutions to social capital. As well as creating benefits for individuals, higher education contributes broader social, economic and cultural benefits or 'public goods'. Though these are of major significance for community and government, they have eluded definition and plausible measurement. However recent research on social capital - the norms and networks (including ICT networks ....The Enterprise University as Networked University: Investigating the contribution of Australian higher education institutions to social capital. As well as creating benefits for individuals, higher education contributes broader social, economic and cultural benefits or 'public goods'. Though these are of major significance for community and government, they have eluded definition and plausible measurement. However recent research on social capital - the norms and networks (including ICT networks) that facilitate cooperation - provides a promising new line of inquiry. Building on three previous ARC studies of Australian universities, the project investigates (1) local and global networks sustained by eight case study institutions, and (2) through survey, the contribution of those institutions to the values and networking of graduates.Read moreRead less
University position-taking strategies in the global environment: a cross-country study of the Asia-Pacific region. Much of Asia is developing, modernising and globalising at a rapid pace. Higher education, science and research are central and are growing even more rapidly. The Asia-Pacific has great long-term geo-strategic significance for Australia, including education exports which earn $7 billion per year in the region. Our capacity to understand, to cooperate with and to compete with Asian u ....University position-taking strategies in the global environment: a cross-country study of the Asia-Pacific region. Much of Asia is developing, modernising and globalising at a rapid pace. Higher education, science and research are central and are growing even more rapidly. The Asia-Pacific has great long-term geo-strategic significance for Australia, including education exports which earn $7 billion per year in the region. Our capacity to understand, to cooperate with and to compete with Asian universities within the worldwide field of higher education will closely affect our future. This project provides the first hard data on the global operations of leading universities in ten Asian nations and will be of value to government, business and education.Read moreRead less
University Responses to Globalisation in Singapore, Hong Kong, and China. This research investigates how globalisation affects universities in Singapore, Hong Kong, and China. Through comparative policy analyses with Western universities, we examine Asian universities' responses to two globalising practices: accountability and autonomy. There is an inherent tension between these as they often interact and shape each other. As governments give universities more autonomy, they simultaneously deman ....University Responses to Globalisation in Singapore, Hong Kong, and China. This research investigates how globalisation affects universities in Singapore, Hong Kong, and China. Through comparative policy analyses with Western universities, we examine Asian universities' responses to two globalising practices: accountability and autonomy. There is an inherent tension between these as they often interact and shape each other. As governments give universities more autonomy, they simultaneously demand greater accountability. Evidence suggests that the way quality mechanisms are introduced affects institutional and professional autonomy. Significant outcomes include: 1) an improved understanding of Asian university responses to global trends; 2) building globalisation theory based on empirical evidence; 3) developing policy theory; 4) publications.Read moreRead less
Tertiary education and social capital in Victoria: the effects of the new economy courses in Business and IT. Over one third of tertiary students are enrolled in the fast-growing new economy disciplines in business studies and IT. In partnership with the Victorian government, this project studies the contribution of business and IT courses to social capital, the collaborative networks that underpin economic innovation and sustainable community. The research will survey and interview Victorian 15 ....Tertiary education and social capital in Victoria: the effects of the new economy courses in Business and IT. Over one third of tertiary students are enrolled in the fast-growing new economy disciplines in business studies and IT. In partnership with the Victorian government, this project studies the contribution of business and IT courses to social capital, the collaborative networks that underpin economic innovation and sustainable community. The research will survey and interview Victorian 1500 graduates from 12 higher education and VET institutions (6 rural); and survey and interview employers and community leaders. The research will inform Victoria's education policy and Growing Victoria Together strategy, and encourage tertiary institutions throughout Australia to strengthen their contribution to social capital.Read moreRead less