Commitment to Research

The pursuit of knowledge is a central driver for Torrens University Australia. We aim to develop distinctive research and research training with enduring global and national significance.

Torrens University Australia is an Australian university with a national presence, embedded within Laureate Education Network’s Asia, Africa and Middle East (AMEA) region. Our research derives meaning from the social, economic, cultural and environmental context of our unique geographical place in the world, while being connected to a global network of researchers. We develop distinctive research and research training programs with enduring global and national impact and significance. We aim for excellence in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research that focuses on sustainable solutions to key societal challenges.

Our research outputs are designed to advance knowledge that positively contributes to social justice and wellbeing, improved health outcomes, the provision of inclusive education, strong governance systems, innovative and vibrant economies, and positive social transformation. Our distinctive approach to real-world applications for our research ensures it has maximum impact. We embrace engaged scholarship. Our practice-informed research approach starts with the needs of industry, community, professional bodies, government and other stakeholders in Australia and overseas, engaging them in the research process as co-researchers, collaborators, partners, end-users and advisers.

To guide the development of a distinctive research culture, Torrens University Australia launched its inaugural Research Plan in 2016. The Plan establishes a platform for engaging with industry, community, professional bodies, government and other stakeholders in Australia and the region, as well as our overseas partners. It opens up a range of new opportunities to serve our communities and build a strong research presence nationally and internationally.

Research Themes

The Torrens University Research Plan sets out four priority research themes which draw their inspiration from key global challenges:

Education futures
Supporting livelihoods, innovation and vibrant economies
Health futures, positive ageing and wellbeing
Sustainable governance and transformations

Research Centres

Torrens University Australia hosts the Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU), which is committed to providing information on a broad range of health and other determinants across the lifespan. PHIDU has been funded by the Australian Government since 1999 and focuses on the publication of small area statistics:

For monitoring inequality in health and wellbeing.
For supporting planning and research to improve population health outcomes.

The web-based data source provided by PHIDU is unique in Australia and freely available for the public to use in the form of interactive atlases and graphs, supported by data tables and metadata.

Current Research Projects

Torrens is currently developing a range of collaborative projects with key research partners, including other universities in Australia and overseas, non-government organisations, government bodies and corporate partners. Several of these projects are focused on improving health outcomes for particular groups, including in the context of an ageing population. A number of research projects are currently underway by staff and students including:

Health and ageing population
Education engagement
Employability
Teaching and learning

Priorities

What’s important and why? Research is the key to understanding and improving our world at large.

Building a culture of research and scholarship

We aim to build a pervasive research culture in which diverse scholarly activities take place. Our organisational practice values research and provides a supportive context for research productivity. We recognise the role of institutional practices in building a strong research culture and continue to develop our institutional capabilities including research policies, appropriate resources, research training, research discussions and research leadership. We establish strong global partnerships, supported by Torrens University Australia as one of the 80 institutions in the Laureate International Universities network. We build and foster world-class research that is targeted to the needs of our stakeholders. Our culture is based on strong ethical standards and we abide by the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.

HIGHER DEGREE STUDENTS

Torrens University Australia offers higher degree research courses including Masters (MPhil) and PhD. We build pathways for students to progress to higher degrees. We aim to instil aspirations to undertake research by providing high-quality learning environments, introducing knowledge of leading research paradigms, providing quality supervision, building academic skills and fostering an encouraging environment to enable students to finish their dissertations. We recognise the importance of research training to the future of our nation and encourage potential students to enrol in higher degrees through financial supports offered via selected scholarships.

DEVELOPING RESEARCH CAPABILITIES

We take a strengths-based approach, value our staff research and institutional frameworks while continually improving our institutional and staff research capabilities. A range of practices including development of appropriate policies, professional staff development and mentoring activities are undertaken on an ongoing basis. We support our academic staff to gain higher degrees, particularly PhDs.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND COMMUNICATION OF RESEARCH

Our research aims to make a difference, bringing cutting-edge solutions to key problems and issues. For this reason, we aim to make our research relevant and communicate findings that can encourage critical thinking, stimulate ideas, guide policy and practice, foster public debate, and build capacity and skills.

Approach and direction

Torrens looks at all issues from a global perspective a means to affect local change.

RESEARCH APPROACH

There are many local, national and global challenges facing our world. These challenges require creativity, cutting-edge ideas, new thinking, collaboration and innovation. Our research philosophy stems from ‘engaged scholarship’, which means our research utilises an applied, practice-informed approach. Starting with the needs of industry, community, professional bodies, government and other stakeholders in Australia and overseas, we engage them in the research process as collaborators, partners, end users and advisors.

RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Our research directions are both disciplinary and multi/inter-disciplinary, deriving from our current strengths and including (but are not limited to):

Scholarship of teaching and learning
Governance and public policy
Social justice, health and wellbeing
Business, industry and entrepreneurship
Education leadership

Higher degree research

Want to take your postgraduate studies to the next level? Develop your own research topic under Torrens’ guidance.

Torrens University Australia is committed to providing high quality and relevant research training for the next generation of researchers and high-performing professionals in Australia and beyond. As a Torrens research student, you will learn in an environment characterised by collegiate relationships with your research supervisors, your peers and other academic staff. Our academic and higher degree student researchers are currently working on projects in various areas including:

Academic leadership in virtual environments.
Developing students' employability skills.
Cross-cultural literacies.
Interactive learning experiences and pedagogies.
The experience of PhD students.
Isomorphic change in local government service delivery.
The political economy of skilled migration.
The meaning of sport in a technological age.
Frailty in the ageing process.
Clinical planning for end-of-life care.

Acceptance into the Torrens Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy courses is contingent on an applicant’s proposed field of research being acceptable to the University and able to be appropriately supervised and resourced. Contact a Course and Career Advisor to discuss your research ambitions.

Industry Sponsorship and Collaboration

Last year, Torrens University Australia launched its industry-focused research course. Through membership of the Laureate International Universities network, Torrens has access to collaborative research resources around the world. The University is developing fundamental, strategic and applied research expertise in focused areas that are related to and inform the courses of study offered, not only advancing knowledge but with the potential to lead to international research collaborations and contribute to society.

We would like to hear from you if you want to sponsor a research project or research student, collaborate with Torrens research staff or provide supervision or assessment of higher degree students.

Enquire Online Download risks table

Ethics

All staff, students and affiliates of Torrens University Australia must obtain appropriate ethical clearance before commencing any activity involving human research.

Guidelines Regarding Human Research

Torrens University Australia researchers should refer to the University’s Ethical Conduct of Research Procedure for information about ethics processes and considerations at Torrens. The University procedure is informed by the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007), developed jointly by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Universities Australia. There are also specific national guidelines for the ethical conduct of research in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health: Values and Ethics – Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research. In addition, University researchers must be aware of and comply with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007), developed jointly by the NHMRC, ARC and Universities Australia.

What is Human Research?

Human research is any research conducted with or about people, or their data or bodily tissues. It includes:

Taking part in surveys, interviews or focus groups
Undergoing psychological, physiological or medical testing or treatment
Being observed by researchers
Researchers having access to their personal documents, information or other materials, including when taken from an existing database.
The collection and use of bodily tissues or fluids (e.g. skin, blood, urine, saliva, hair, exhaled breath, bones and biopsy specimens).

Ethical Approval for Human Research

The Torrens University Ethics Committee operates as the University’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) and monitors the ethical conduct of all human research at Torrens. Researchers must seek ethics clearance from the Ethics Committee before commencing any human research activity. Human research may be:

Negligible/low risk (the foreseeable risk to human participants in the research is of inconvenience or discomfort only) – use Torrens University Low/Negligible Risk Application Form.
High risk (there is a foreseeable risk of harm to human participants in the research OR the research involves particular participant groups or methodologies).

The Torrens University Low/Negligible Risk Application Form includes more information about whether a research activity is low/negligible or high risk. The Application Form is available to staff and higher degree students via the Research Repository section in Blackboard, or from the Research Officer

Questions About Human Research at Torrens

All queries about the ethical conduct of human research at Torrens University, including concerns about effects on participants, should be directed to the Research Officer at ethics@laureate.net.au. The Research Officer will refer issues to the Ethics Committee as necessary.

Applications for our 2018 research courses are ongoing. Please click on the apply button or call a career advisor on 1300 575 803.

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