A core commitment of the Griffith 2015 agenda is to seek to build reputation and recognition of Griffith in a relatively short time by selectively investing resources in a limited number of areas which offer the best opportunity for sustained international recognition.
In the Vice Chancellor’s paper approved by Council in December 2007 it stated:
Necessarily this will be in areas where we have or plan to have:
- sufficient scale to compete internationally
- a strong base and reputation of distinctive Griffith strength; and
- strong opportunities for further long term enhanced development.
I therefore propose to identify and invest in a select number of areas of strength of the University as a key strategy for achieving wider recognition of Griffith nationally and internationally. Griffith’s areas of strength will be sufficiently broad to have substantial scale and to maintain relevance and excellence over the long term, but not so broad as to be amorphous or lose their distinctive identity. Griffith’s areas of strength will be underpinned by the university’s research strength and over time the areas will be aligned with Griffith’s strategic research programs.
The paper proposed between five to eight areas of strategic investment. These would be funded for a period of five years each from the strategic development fund. This involves a total commitment of $40 million.
Expressions of Interest were sought and considered by Executive Group who supported the funding of eight areas. Seven of the areas have been chosen primarily on the basis of their strong research profile; one primarily on its distinguished role in teaching and professional practice. Some preliminary work has already been done on scoping the focus of each of these areas by the relevant academic groups. This material was used in deciding on the areas of strategic investment as was the data recently collected for the RQF exercise. However, it should be noted that the analysis also took into account potential for developing significant strength in a particular area and strategic significance in terms of the University’s location and external developments locally, regionally and internationally.
The Areas of Strategic Investment will not be developed by establishing new structures or organisational units but instead will be developed through existing structures. The funds will be utilised for particular strategic directions for those existing structures, enhancing their strengths in particular directions. The goal is that the University will attain world-class standing and a distinctive international profile in each of the eight areas and it is crucial that the funds be utilised in the most strategic fashion to achieve this goal.
Areas of strategic investment
The eight areas identified for strategic investment with provisional titles are:
- Asian Politics, Trade and Development
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Criminology with a focus on Prevention
- Drug Discovery with a focus on infectious diseases
- Health Research with a focus on innovations in health care
- Music, the Arts and the Asia Pacific Region
- Tourism with a focus on sustainable tourism research
- Water Science with a focus on Freshwater, estuarine and urban water research
Full details of the areas and the next steps in the process can be found via the Griffith Portal under work > strategic planning > key university documents.