The Group of Eight (Go8) has welcomed an announcement by the Education Minister Chris Evans of $100,000 for a new research leadership executive shadowing program between the Go8 and Consortium of China Nine Research Universities(C9). The funding acknowledges a highly successful relationship between the Go8 and C9 and affirms the vitality of Australia’s research relationship with China.

The shadowing program will enable senior research and research training executives from Go8 universities to spend two weeks at a C9 institution, and vice versa. The visitors will observe the host university’s operations and decision-making processes, and gain insights into research management and leadership issues in the partner nation.

This program will facilitate career development of university leaders including Deputy Vice-Chancellors Research and Pro Vice-Chancellors Research/Research Training, and deepen research and professional engagement between some of the main discovery universities in Australia and China, as well as foster mutually-advantageous activities including staff /student exchanges and joint research projects.

The C9 institutions are currently mentoring a number of Chinese western region universities which will also be included in this shadowing program.

Applications open on 11 August 2011 with the shadowing program commencing in early 2012. It is an extension of a Go8-C9 MoU signed in October 2010.

To facilitate communication and coordination in negotiating the timeframe and detailed arrangements for 2012-13, a contact list for Go8 and C9 DVC/PVC offices have been prepared and will be provided to all participating institutions.

For more information, please download program flyer from HERE.

For further enquiries:

Go8 Secretariat: Jane Liang, jane.liang@go8.edu.au and Ian McMahon, ian.mcMahon@go8.edu.au

The Group of Eight Future Research Leaders Program provides best practice training in financial management, grant administration, business planning, commercialisation and technology transfer, corporate governance, financial reporting, acquittal and audit requirements to staff in Go8 universities who are identified as future research leaders.

The project aims to:

• provide development opportunities to current and future research leaders to create a critical mass for improved researcher productivity and performance;
• develop consistent and published sector-wide performance standards and learning materials for researchers in financial and business management of research;
• increase awareness among researchers and the research community as to what is expected of them in relation to the efficient management of research projects;
• involve the major funding agencies in the measurement and evaluation of the project outcomes, to drive reform at the institutional level as well as across the Go8;
• publicise the outcomes and findings of the program.

Program participants commence with an online induction module designed for researchers who are new to Go8 universities. The subsequent eight modules prepare participants for future roles as managers of research grants and leaders of research teams. These modules explore the roles and responsibilities that researchers assume as project managers, as research supervisors and as team leaders.

Each module comprises independent-study online learning material to be completed prior to an end-of-module workshop. The total time commitment for participants will be in the order of 8 to 16 hours per module.

The online induction module exploring financial and resource management comprises two elements.  

• a checklist of local practices and expectations which should be discussed with researchers during the induction process;
• documentation of principles and processes which should be reflected in effective research management practices.

The subsequent eight modules target the development of specific capabilities in the following areas:

• Research Strategy and Planning
• Commencement and Collaboration: Putting ideas into practice
• Governance and compliance: Protecting yourself, your research and your university
• Intellectual property and commercialisation
• Financial, resource and risk management
• Grant and Contract Administration
• Managing People in a Research Context
• Project Closeout

For further information about the scheme, contact:
Dr Ian Green - Phone 08 8303 6035 - ian.green@adelaide.edu.au

For information from individual Go8 institutions please contact the following staff:

	The University of Adelaide   Dr Ian Green Phone: 08 8303 6035 Email: ian.green@adelaide.edu.au Weblink to program information
	The Australian National University Ms Leanne Micklethwait Phone: 02 6125 3931 Email: leanne.micklethwait@anu.edu.au Weblink to program information
	The University of Melbourne Ms Jane Pontikis Phone: 03 8344 2065 Email: jane.pontikis@unimelb.edu.au Weblink to program information
	Monash University Ms Amber Collings Phone: 03 9905 6821 Email: Amber.Collings@adm.monash.edu.au Weblink to program information
	The University of New South Wales Dr Gro Frolund Phone: 02 9385 9740 Email: g.frolund@unsw.edu.au Weblink to program information
	The University of Sydney Mr Michael Pooley Phone: 02 9036 9670 Email: m.pooley@usyd.edu.au Weblink to program information
	The University of Queensland Ms Kirsty Fraser Phone: 07 3346 6293 Email: kirsty.fraser@uq.edu.au Weblink to program information
	The University of Western Australia Professor Shelda Debowski Phone: 08 6488 3845 Email: shelda.debowski@uwa.edu.au Weblink to program information

This scheme is a joint initiative of the Go8 and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Germany's national agency for the support of international academic co-operation.

It is one of the world's largest and most respected organisations in its field. Its mission is to advance Germany’s international engagement in the fields of education, science, culture and research.

The scheme aims to:

• Foster research collaboration of the highest quality between Australian researchers from Go8 universities and German researchers.
• Result in research outcomes and the exchange of skills and knowledge of mutual benefit to Australia and Germany.

Go8 Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme Video

Objectives and scope of the scheme

The scheme will support exchanges for Australian researchers to spend time at  partner institutions in Germany  and for collaborating German researchers to spend time at Go8 universities.

Eligibility

Exchange participants  must either be employed as academic staff members in a teaching and research or  research only role at a Go8 university, or a PhD student involved in the research  project submitted by an eligible staff member.

Assessment criteria

The criteria to be  used in assessing Australian applications include:

• the quality of the research project;
• the experience and track record of the participating researchers/research groups and the level of involvement of early career researchers;
• the potential of the project to result in outcomes of mutual benefit to Australia and Germany.

Application  key dates

Applications for exchanges in 2013 open on 30 March and close on 15 June 2012.

Further information

Requests for further information about the scheme from potential applicants in  Go8 universities should, in the first instance, be directed to the relevant  contact officer in each institution's research office (details below). Further  information may be obtained from Ms Kerrie Thornton, Director, Communications and International, The Group of Eight, ph: 02 6239 5488, kerrie.thornton@go8.edu.au

Go8 Contact Officers           The Australian National University Mr  Cameron Glenn Research Development Co-ordinator Phone: (02) 6125 9571 cameron.glenn@anu.edu.au           The University of Adelaide Dr Don  McMaster Research Grants Officer (International) Phone: +61 08 8303 3347   don.mcmaster@adelaide.edu.au            The University of Melbourne Ms Melinda  Heron Senior Research Grants Officer - International Ph: 03 8344  2052 mheron@unimelb.edu.au           Monash University Mr Dennis Batson Grants  Officer, Strategic Grants Ph: 03 9905 1193 dennis.batson@adm.monash.edu           The University of Queensland Ms Katie Cameron Manager, Research Administration Phone: +61 07 3346 9988 k.cameron@uq.edu.au         The University of Sydney Ms Jane Zhang Research Administrator (International) Ph: 02 8627 8103 Jane.zhang@sydney.edu.au           The University of New South Wales Mr Daniel  Owens Deputy Director, Grants Management Office Phone: +61 02 9385 7254 d.owens@unsw.edu.au       The University of Western Australia Ms  Olivia Langensiepen Senior Research Grants Officer Phone: +61 08 6488  4708 olivia.langensiepen@uwa.edu.au    Scheme  documentation        Project report form        Click here to download  DAAD-Go8 MOU        German scheme information (in German for German collaborating  partners)        The 40 projects to be funded for exchange in 2012/2013 are  available HERE        The 24 projects to be funded for exchange in 2011/2012 are  available HERE        The 36 projects to be funded for exchange in 2010/2011 are  available HERE        The 27 projects to be funded for exchange in 2009/2010 are  available HERE        The 26 projects to be funded for exchange in 2008/2009 are  available HERE

The Group of Eight  offers eight annual fellowships to early career researchers in Europe to work in Go8 universities for up to six months.  Each Fellowship is worth up to AUD 20,000.

The Fellowships are open to eligible researchers in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia and Croatia.

The Go8 European  Fellowship scheme recognises the importance of international contacts for early career researchers. It is envisaged that Fellows will continue to collaborate with  Australian research partners when they return to their home institutions.

You are eligible to apply to be a Fellow if you:

1. have completed a PhD less than five  years prior to application for the Fellowship;
2. are under 40 years of age at the time of  application;
3. are a citizen of one of the designated  countries listed above;
4. reside in one of the designated  countries listed above (it need not be the same country as your citizenship);
5. have been employed (minimum half-time  appointment) for at least six months prior to application by a university or  research organisation (public or private) in one of the designated countries;
6. have sufficient competency in English to  be able to adequately communicate with researchers in their host university;
7. are eligible to obtain an Australian  Visiting Academic Visa (subclass 419) or equivalent Australian visa.

Application process

Download Go8 European Fellowships brochure for more information.

Applications for 2012 Fellowships now open. Download application pack here.

For information on how to apply for a visiting academic visa please click here.

Information about Go8 European Fellowship alumni 2007-2011 is available.

For further information:

 Please contact: Kerrie Thornton, Director, Communications and International, Group of Eight,  Ph: +61 2 6239 5488, kerrie.thornton@go8.edu.au

For information from individual Go8 institutions please contact the following staff:

The Australian National University Mr Cameron Glenn Research Development Co-ordinator Ph: 02 6125 9571 Email: cameron.glenn@anu.edu.au	The University of Melbourne Ms Melinda Heron Senior Research Grants Officer - International Melbourne Research Office   Ph: 03 8344 2052 Email: mheron@unimelb.edu.au
The University of Adelaide Dr Don McMaster Research Grants Officer (International) Ph: 08 8303 3347 Email: don.mcmaster@adelaide.edu.au	Monash University Mr Dennis Batson Grants Officer, Strategic Grants Ph: 03 9905 1193 Email: dennis.batson@monash.edu
The University of Queensland Ms Vicky Sheehy Administration Officer (Grants) Ph: 07 3346 6217 Email: v.sheehy@research.uq.edu.au	The University of Sydney Ms Joanne Elliot Research Grants Administration and Funding Ph: 02 8627 8107 Email: joanne.elliot@sydney.edu.au
The University of New South Wales Mr Daniel Owens Deputy Director, Grants Management Office Ph: 02 9385 7230 Email: d.owens@unsw.edu.au	The University of Western Australia Ms Olivia Langensiepen Administrative Officer (Grants) Ph: 08 6488 4708 Email: olivia.langensiepen@uwa.edu.au

The Group of Eight will offer up to eight scholarships to early career researchers in the Italian city of L'Aquila to help them continue their research in Australia while the University of L'Aquila is rebuilt.  

In the aftermath of the April 2009 earthquake in  L'Aquila which claimed nearly 300 lives and left thousands injured, the  university has virtually shut down. Fifty five of those who died were from the  university's 23,000-strong student body.

"Most of the university buildings are currently inaccessible  and it will take at least 6-12 months before research staff and students will  be allowed to access them," said Professor Silvia Bisti, who holds a chair of  neuroscience in L'Aquila's Department of Biomedical Science and Technology.

"PhD students and postdoc fellows, particularly in the  scientific fields, are the worst affected. The earthquake destroyed their  laboratories, making continuation of their research almost impossible."

Professor Anna Tozzi, PVC International Relationships  at the University of L'Aquila, said "the Go8 contribution will make an enormous  difference, providing not only practical help for researchers to continue their  work but also hope for the community."

The Go8 will offer eight one-off scholarships of $5000  each to early career researchers to travel to Australia and spend time  conducting research at Go8 member universities.

The scholarships will be administered through the  Association for Research between Italy and Australasia (ARIA) and applications  will be assessed by an expert panel.

Eligible researchers are those currently enrolled in a  research degree at the University of L'Aquila or full-time staff of the  university. Preference will be given to PhD students and early career  researchers.

Further information including the application form is  available at HERE.

The Group of Eight is developing a program of academic collaboration with the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) in Port Moresby.  The Go8-UPNG project will engage academics from Australian universities in a voluntary capacity to work together and support their academic counterparts at UPNG.

For the 2010 calendar year, the University of Papua New Guinea seeks volunteers in four disciplinary areas: Sociology (and Social Work), Political Science, Journalism and Computer Science.

Academics selected to volunteer will be expected to spend 4-20 weeks at UPNG in a collaborative teaching and mentoring role.  Their travel, accommodation and living expenses will be covered by the project (funded by the Go8 and AusAID).

Expressions of interest in the program are invited from any current or recently retired academic of any Australian university.   If you are willing to be an academic volunteer in Papua New Guinea and/or would like to participate in the 2010 pilot scheme, please register your interest with the Go8-UPNG Project Coordinator by email: Michael.cookson@go8.edu.au

For further information, please click HERE to view or download the expression of interest flyer (PDF).