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Graduate Research School to deliver industry-focused research with impact

ACU has launched a Graduate Research School that will attract the nation’s best and brightest research talent and deliver innovative, industry-focused research.

The Graduate Research School will be home to ACU’s new industry PhD program and oversee a range of scholarship opportunities. It was officially launched at a showcase event this week at the Melbourne Campus, attended by industry partners.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Professor Abid Khan said the school was part of a new chapter for research at ACU, focused on projects that contribute to the common good and support the university’s long-term strategic plan, Vision 2033.

“Our new Graduate Research School is focused on building fundamental understanding and new knowledge and finding solutions to the big challenges facing our society, such as childhood wellbeing, integral human development and supporting the aged care and education workforces,” Professor Khan said.

“As a mission-led university, ACU’s human-centred problem-solving and innovation is what sets us apart from other universities and positions us as the Global South’s leading university for integral human development.

“It’s about a shared vision, integrating students and staff from the sciences to the humanities, to address global challenges through a distinctly human and people-centred lens.

“We are fostering an environment where every research project is designed to produce outcomes that resonate with human needs and aspirations – spanning fundamental and applied research to research translation.”

Inaugural Director of the Graduate Research School Michelle Lopez said it would play a key role in establishing industry PhDs, building strategic domestic and international partnerships,

“At ACU we have wonderful researchers and a strong and growing research reputation,” Ms Lopez said.

“We are among the top ten Catholic universities in the world and recently topped the country for research quality in the Times Higher Education World Rankings.

“To continue to excel, we’re bringing together talented research students, renowned academics and industry partners to drive our impact-focused research agenda.”

One of the first projects launched by the Graduate Research School is the Vice-Chancellor’s Research Training Industry Partnership Program, which co-funds PhD cohorts with mission-aligned partners.

This offers professional development and mobility opportunities for supervisors and students and id designed to help build relationships with industry to address pressing contemporary global challenges.

ACU will also use its industry arts and heritage PhD program in Ballarat as a model for further research partnerships.

ACU currently offers PhD partnerships with local industry players, including the City of Ballarat, the Art Gallery of Ballarat and Sovereign Hill. Doctoral candidates pursue research programs co-designed with industry partners to explore and develop Ballarat’s rich heritage and art history.

Director of ACU’s new Centre for Regional Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Associate Professor Benjamin Mountford said the program offered doctoral students a chance to undertake real-world research and make a positive contribution to Ballarat.

"The industry PhD program reflects ACU's ongoing commitment to fostering links in the local community and promoting research and training in the arts and humanities,” he said.

"We have partnered with key regional stakeholders to give our doctoral students an opportunity to undertake industry-relevant research while earning their PhD."