Informatics 2008 1

Research in the Faculty of Informatics

University of Wollongong

Salim Bouzerdoum

Informatics 2008 2

Research Structure

Faculty Research Structure in 2006

Informatics 2008 3

Current Research Structure

Informatics

SMAS SISATSECTE

EM TITR

SCSSE

ISCDSL CISTR CBSS

CSSM

PAMUOW Res. Strengths

In 2008

IMAS

Informatics 2008 4

Research in Informatics

Mission

To conduct research of high quality with long lasting impact that is internationally competitive.

Foster a research culture and promote excellence in research amongst staff and postgraduate students.

Research performance in the Faculty of Informatics has been steadily improving over the past eight years.

Informatics 2008 5

Research Publications

Informatics - DEST Publications

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Informatics 2008 6

DEST Publications

UOW - DEST Publications

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Arts

Comm

Carts

Educ

Eng

HBS

Info

Law

Sci

Informatics 2008 7

2007 Publications

DEST Publications UOW Publications General Publications

Informatics 2008 8

% DEST Publications

65

70

75

80

85

90

2004 2005 2006 2007

Informatics (% DEST/Total)

Informatics 2008 9

Publications Per Academic FTE

• Less than 2.4 pub/FTE in 2004

• Close to 3.0 pub./FTE in 2007 UOW around 2.2

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2006 Journal Publications

• 2006: 63/247 C1 DEST Points (25%)

• 2007: 151/430 Journal articles (35%)

Informatics 2008 11

Research Funding

DEST-1: $2.7M in 2007, $1.7M in 2008, -36%

Informatics 2008 12

Number of Grant & Contracts

● In 2008: 31/58 DEST-4 (64.7%) ● 8 (13.8%) DEST-1

Informatics 2008 13

NCG Funding 2006—2008

● Info. Total $6M

Informatics 2008 14

DEST-1 Research Funding

DEST-1 Funding:

102% increase in 2007

36% decrease in 2008

DEST-4 Funding:

31/58 (64.7%) grants in 2008

58/81 (71.6%) grants in 2007

Only 2/25 successful discovery grants in 2009

More than 40 % of funding in DEST-1 from ARC.

Conclusion:

We need to diversify funding sources and target linkage and other National competitive grants.

Informatics 2008 15

HDR Training

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Arts Com'rce Cr. Arts Engineering Education HBS Informatics Law Science

Masters Ph.D. Total

Research EFTS for 2006

Informatics 2008 16

Research EFTS by Faculty (2006)

Faculty Masters Ph.D. Total

Arts 14.2 59.7 73.8

Commerce 12.5 70.8 83.3

Cr. Arts 16.0 42.0 58.0

Engineering 21.6 96.5 118.1

Education 12.5 75.1 87.5

HBS 16.4 94.3 110.7

Informatics 38.6 96.6 135.3

Law 4.4 28.5 32.9

Science 16.0 117.8 133.8

SITACS 27.3 47.1 74.4

SECTE 8.8 30.3 39.0

SMAS 2.6 19.3 21.9

In 2006, Informatics had highest EFTS for first time

In 2007, Informatics had 160 EFTS,

18.25% increase

Informatics 2008 17

HDR Progress

In 2006 135 EFTSL

In 2007 158 EFTSL, 17.7 % increase

Info. Faculty has the largest No. of HDR students

In 2007, 205 HDR students

147 PhD, 58 MS

27 (13%) graduated

Expected graduates 55 (36 PhD and 29 MS)

43 (21%) students go overtime

Completion rates are too low.

Informatics 2008 18

2007 Postgrad. Res. Exp. Questionaire

7 out of 27 responded Supervision (available, helpful feedback, understanding,…)

66.7% agree, UOW 83.4, National 78.9 Intellectual Climate (social contact, integration into Dept,

involvement in res. culture, seminars, res. ambiance) 57.1% agree, UOW 69.8%, National 62.8%

Skill Development (problem-solving skills, analytical skills, written work, plan work, tackle unfamiliar problems) 66.7% agree, UOW 90.9%, National 91.4%

Infrastructure (working space, tech. support, equip.) 61.5 agree, UOW 77.1%, National 77.6%

Overall satisfaction 100% agree, UOW 78.8%, National 87.6%

Informatics 2008 19

Challenges Ahead

Group A: External Research FundingChair: David Steel, Co-Chair Farzad Safaei• Improve the success rate in NCG• Innovation, commercialization and Industry relations• Industry and international collaborations and Linkages

Group B: Quality of Research and Research TrainingChair: John Fulcher, Co-Chair Peter Eklund• Improve research output and quality• Enhance the quality of HDR and postdoctoral research

scholarship and training, and improve HDR completion rates• Improve pathways to commercialisation for students and

postdoc fellows