Research

RUN universities perform outstanding fundamental and engaged research.  They excel in a range of fields including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, environmental science, health, sports science, psychology, engineering and mathematics.  Their vibrant research environments help attract world class academics and enhance the experiences of both undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

Much of the research at RUN universities is regionally significant and characterised by being high quality, focussed, innovative, and socially connected.  It is complemented by a broadly based, world standard research capability.  RUN universities play a key role in supporting regional innovation which is reflected in their capacity to attract a relatively high proportion of their research funding from industry[1]. 

The quality of research being conducted at RUN universities is growing rapidly – for example, the 2015 Excellence in Research in Australia (ERA) outcomes showed a three-fold increase in disciplines rated ‘well above world standard’ compared with 2012, and a more than six-fold increase in disciplines rated ‘at above world standard’. 

To find out more about the research conducted at RUN universities, click on the following links:

Central Queensland University

Federation University Australia

Federation University Australia's research priority areas

Southern Cross University

University of New England

University of Southern Queensland

University of the Sunshine Coast

A brochure showcasing RUN research and a position paper detailing the contributions of RUN universities to food security are also available.

 

[1] Using the 2014 Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC), RUN universities obtained 30% of their research income from ‘industry sources’.   (‘Industry sources’ refer here to income from Category 1, Rural R&D Corporations; Category 3, Australian contracts and grants; and Category 4, non-Commonwealth sourced CRC income.)  By contrast, the average share for all higher education providers was 13%.