Cross-disciplinary and inter-university collaborations
Distinguished Professor Anthony Okely, Associate Dean Research for the Faculty of The Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Wollongong facilitated this gathering on collaboration across disciplines and institutions can unlock innovative approaches, broaden research impact, and open doors to new funding and partnership opportunities.
In this collaborative session, members shared their experiences from initiatives at their own universities, including Pan-University Research Initiatives, and inter-university collaborations such as national/international studies and university networks. Members discussed practical strategies, challenges, and opportunities in building and sustaining collaborations. Please join us for a relaxed and interactive discussion among ADR colleagues.
Anthony also shared his experiences of leveraging expertise across university settings, approaching and working with industry in establishing flagships within institutions to respond to specific challenges and issue areas. He emphasised the importance on ensuring that initiatives relate to the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.
Key discussion takeaways
- Research Collaborations: Various universities are implementing cross-disciplinary research initiatives through EOI processes, with some taking bottom-up approaches and others using more directed models.
- Integration Challenges: Participants discussed how Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines can secure “seats at the table” in predominantly STEM-focused research initiatives, and ensure their voices are heard and they have a say in research direction and autonomy.
- Successful Strategies: Building relationships with STEM faculty leaders early including through collaborating on undergraduate classes, identifying senior researchers to lead collaborations, and highlighting HASS contributions to research impact were suggested as effective approaches.
- Funding Landscape: Recognition that multidisciplinary teams are increasingly required for competitive funding applications, with discussion of how to position HASS disciplines effectively.
- Early Career Researchers: Importance of engaging ECRs and MCRs in interdisciplinary work early in their careers.
- Future Collaboration: Participants expressed interest in cross-institutional collaboration among universities to strengthen HASS positioning in research initiatives.
