Our research

Experts, stakeholders, and entities within the university sector are agents of transformation capable of engaging the complex and urgent challenges of social and economic sustainability.

Focus

How can universities best fulfil their role as knowledge-brokers, connectors, and drivers of innovation in their local, regional, and international environments?

We focus on experts, universities, and their ecosystems in reference to critical issues that demand substantial knowledge resilience such as sustainability, ecological transition, digitalisation, Industry 4.0 and the future economic paths of both developing and economically complex countries.

Subtopics

• Building engagement and impact capacity within university ecosystems for more successful knowledge exchange and translation outcomes

• Universities as drivers of innovation

• Optimising university-industry cooperation to drive resilient knowledge ecosystems

Aim

Our aim is to enable universities to become harbours of stable knowledge resilience in an immensely turbulent and challenging world.

Graduate researchers represent the foundation of future expertise and transformation. The degree of engagement, entrepreneurial intent, and openness of their university context defines their mindset.

Focus

What are the experiences and roles of graduate researchers within universities and their broader ecosystems?

Our research agenda is distinguished by a strategic focus on researching, evidencing and leading best practice in graduate research experience, innovation, and sustainability.

Subtopics

• Graduate research programs

• The experience of students and understanding that journey

• The complexities of student wellbeing in the research context

• Developing appropriate policy, strategy, and monitoring tools for optimal student experience outcomes

• The changing nature of the graduate research profile

• The role of innovation and entrepreneurship in the educational/research mix

Aim

We aim to contribute to scholarly, governmental, and institutional conversations on how best to train, retain and support graduate researchers as they journey towards their role as future thought leaders capable of delivering the depth of knowledge capital required for future economic and social prosperity.

How can the seismic shifts in political and economic power, embedded social polarisation, and challenges to global governance be successfully negotiated at the local, national, and regional levels?

Universities can influence wider economic, social, and environmental systems to support productive, innovative, and sustainable futures.

Focus

We focus on the cultivation of informed and authoritative knowledge—through research, development, and translation—as a foundation of resilient social, economic, and governance systems.

Subtopics

• The behaviours, capabilities, and structures of entrepreneurial universities within their wider industry, government, and social ecosystems

• Utilising knowledge ecosystems to confront wicked challenges such as Industry 4.0, climate resilience, economic resilience and social cohesion, innovation for good, and the responsible use of technology

Aim

Our aim is to contribute to the building of critical knowledge infrastructures in societal, economic, and policy domains able to meet twenty-first century challenges.