Research Collaboration

Research Workshop 2006

Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan 11-13 October 2006

The main outcomes for the workshop were:

• Identified research strengths across the INU network
• Identified research collaboration areas
• Identified funding opportunities
• An action plan and time table for research collaboration
• The establishment of a communication structure
• Benchmark exercise with focus on best practice in research management and research assessment
• Recommendations on further collaboration across the network

Recommendations

The report arising from the INU Research Workshop was submitted to the INU Council meeting held at La Trobe University on 13-14 November 2006 and the following recomendations were accepted:

1. The INU Council note the twenty identified areas of common research strengths
2. The INU Council encourage member universities to provide “seed funding” to assist with the establishment of collaborative research projects
3. The INU Council consider the establishment of a formal INU Fellowship for research renewal
4. The INU Council encourage member universities to explore possibilities for the establishment of joint or double degrees, noting that this would normally be most feasible on a bilateral basis
5. The INU Council endorse the proposed application to the Toyota Foundation for funding to support pilot workshops in the areas of:
   • Cultural heritage
   • Migration and ethnic studies
   • Environment
   • Ageing
   • Peace
   • International Education (please note that this area was added by the INU Council at its meeting)
6. The INU Council endorse the establishment of a Research Management Special Interest Group comprising the research managers of the member universities. This group would play a critical role in addressing a range of issues pertaining to international research collaboration (as noted above) and would provide a forum for the sharing of information
7. The INU Council establish a Steering Committee to which the Research Management Special Interest Group should report and which, in liaison with the INU Secretariat, would develop mechanisms for the effective dissemination of information between member universities.

In connection with the Research work shop, a group of INU members also visited Hiroshima University to discuss further collaboration and visit research sites. President Muta kindly hosted Ms Christine Steele (Flinders University), Professor Jerry A Benson and Dr Rustin Greene (James Madison University), Peter Jonsson (Malmo University) and the INU Project Manager Gilla Carlecrantz. The program were arranged by Mr Hideo Kadowaki and his staff at the International Programs Bureau.