Research in the Faculty of Education and Arts

The Faculty of Education and Arts (FEDUA) is committed to a research development strategy that will enable it to contribute strongly to the University's research enterprise under the new federal innovation system - which provides incentives for quality and concentration of research strength.

The Faculty streamlines its research focus and investment via its three research Institutes and one Priority Research Centre:

The three Institutes and the PRC aim to provide a growth-orientated critical mass of focussed activity that supports the Faculty’s major research strengths and facilitates research that has high impact both nationally and internationally.      

The Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity & Nutrition takes a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to understanding physical activity and nutrition for population health and sports performance, with particular emphasis on education and health promotion strategies for chronic disease prevention, treatment, and wellbeing. The PRC aims to examine these interrelationships across the lifespan, by targeting "at risk" populations, multiple levels (individual, social, organisational, population) and within various settings (schools, clinics, workplaces, communities).

The Humanities Research Institute believes that humanities research has an important role to play in the intellectual life of the University and more widely. Our aim is to foster teams of researchers to undertake high-quality adventurous work in the humanities, and to promote the research careers of individual University of Newcastle humanities researchers. We also seek out and promote research connections between the humanities disciplines at Newcastle and work elsewhere, with the idea of forming productive groups in closely focused areas across institutions, and groups that bring together researchers across discipline boundaries to tackle larger and more intractable problems.

Educational Research Institute Newcastle (ERIN) cultivates interdisciplinary research to enhance the theoretical, methodological, and evidence-based understandings of education. It provides a productive research environment where leading scholars conduct streams of research that have high national and international impact. ERIN strives to be an instrument of change to advance educational practice, to create inclusive and equitable learning environments, to enhance educational outcomes for diverse learners, and to deliver evidence-based solutions to significant educational problems.

Research Institute for Social Inclusion and Wellbeing (RISIW) focuses explicitly on social inclusion and wellbeing as significant factors which impact on equity, social justice and citizenship. The Institute brings together some of the world's leading researchers and policy makers in this interdisciplinary field. Our focus is on research within a strategic framework where the social sciences and moral philosophy come together in endorsing a global public sphere based on the principle of parity of participation. Indicators and measurements of wellbeing are being extended beyond preferences and levels of satisfaction to incorporate the degree to which human beings can flourish together so as to lead a good life.  The Institute is dedicated to advancing the understanding of inclusion and wellbeing, and applying new knowledge and methods to helping people, institutions and societies develop their full capabilities.

Faculty Research Support

In addition to strategic funding of research programmes via the three Faculty Research Institutes, the Faculty of Education and Arts offers a broad programme of research support that includes the following elements in 2011:

  • Research Strengthening Workshop Series for  Early Career and Mid-Career researchers
  • Writing the DP Workshop Series for Early Career and Mid-Career researchers 
  • Tailored grant application review service for senior researchers applying for ARC DP and FT funding in 2012 (please notify intent by 31 August)
  • ARC LP Support scheme (new in 2011) with 3 elements: top up for projects that receive UoN LP Pilot finding; rapid response funds of up to $1,500 and an incentive bonus scheme for new applications. Plus RDM assistance with preparing LP Pilot scheme applications and subsequent ARC applications
  • Assistance with budget preparation for NCG applications via the ‘Ready Reckoner’ spreadsheet and one-on-one support from the Institute EOs.
  • Assistance with planning and preparing applications for internal University Early Career Researcher Grants from Institute Directors and Institute EOs
  • Senior academic and Expert academic external review of draft NCG applications (November)
  • Faculty Review Panel for ARC applications (December)
  • RDM planning for and review of ARC applications that meet internal submission deadlines. This includes drafting of institutional statements of support for ARC FT and DECRA candidates; and assistance with other externally-funded and centrally-funded Fellowship applications.
  • Conference Travel Support grant scheme
  • New Staff grant scheme application form
  • SSP for research purposes
  • Mid Career Fellowships and ECR Fellowship aligned with each Institute
  • 50/50 PhD Scholarships
  • ARC guest speakers (in 2011, Prof Andrew Wells visited in March and in October Prof Elizabeth Kendall, chair of the SBE Panel will speak about Linkage Projects)

Governance

Research within the Faculty is overseen by the Research Committee and the Research Training Committee, which reports to and advises the Pro Vice-Chancellor. The Assistant Deans (Research and Research Training) chair the Faculty committees and are members of the associated University committees.

Assistant Dean (Research and Research Training) Associate Professor Pamela Nilan
Pamela.Nilan@newcastle.eu.au