We Understand Universities, Research Organisations and Schools

Ethos Australia has extensive experience in organisation reviews, community engagement planning, restructuring and strategic planning in universities, research organisations and schools.

We have a sound understanding of the tensions between individual research performance and organisation strategic focus; we understand the teaching/research nexus and how academics often have difficulty balancing teaching and research demands; we understand the importance of and the demands of research funding processes and the limitations of running an organisation on ‘soft funding’;  We understand the difficulties of managing work load models in universities and the many activities of academics that are vital but often not measured; We understand the importance of industry collaborative research but that fundamental research is often the basis of real innovation and advancement of a discipline.

We understand the importance of research collaboration across academic institutions but we are also well aware of the personal and organisational tensions and financial structures that inhibit such collaboration.

Our experience with this sector over the past 16 years includes:

• University strategic planning
• Community consultation processes regarding community engagement strategies
• Community engagement planning
• Research Strategy workshops for universities, faculties and schools
• Facilitation of national and international research collaborations across disciplines
• Facilitation of complex curriculum review processes
• Organisational restructure of faculties
• Strategic planning for national research centers
• Team building processes in academic and administrative units within Universities
• Strategic planning in secondary schools
• Facilitation of industry skills development processes involving both private and public technical training organisations.

Ethos Research Leaders Forum

The Ethos Research Leaders Forum has been established as a peer development and network program for senior research managers across Australia

This is not a one-off course to get a ‘dose of leadership’, rather it is an opportunity to meet regularly with peers, (other research institute leaders of a predetermined size and status) to confidentially discuss management and leadership challenges.  Through a facilitated process the group swaps experience and resources related to key discussion themes eg managing and developing large scale international interactions,  IP Management, managing researchers, relationships with Governments etc. 

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In summary: A group of 12 research leaders (no more than 2 or 3 from one university) come together every 2 months for a one day forum to discuss leadership issues in a facilitated discussion using the case studies of those present.  Also each participant receives 6, two hour one-on-one sessions (over 12 months) focusing on issues important to their management style that may or may-not be brought to the attention of the group at later forums.

Each one-day forum would also include a one hour presentation from an eminent person of national significance in the field of growing nationally significant research institutes/centres.

This is a program for current research leaders with significant people management and industry liaison responsibility; this program is not for ECR or MCRs.