Otago Polytechnic continues to grow research base

Otago Polytechnic continues to grow its research base, the latest round of Performance Based Research Funding reflecting the ITP’s commitment to a well-rounded research culture that benefits teaching, learners, and the wider community.

Otago Polytechnic Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF) exceeds expectations following the latest evaluation in the 2018 funding round.

Funded research includes the areas of Business, Creative Arts and Design, Education, Engineering Technology and Architecture, Health and Sports, Humanities (such as Art History and Theory), Information Technology, Māori Knowledge, and Social Sciences.

Otago Polytechnic was one of the first ITPs (Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics) to enter the PBRF (Performance Based Research Funding) quality evaluation in 2006.

Over the three quality evaluation rounds (2006, 2012, 2018) in which Otago Polytechnic participated, there has been a 62% increase in the number of staff awarded funded categories.

According to the Education Commission, the participation in PBRF from ITPs is increasing, as is the number of awarded funded categories for research.

TEC rightly notes that the “distribution of B and C Quality Categories suggests a focus on supporting a research culture and the [ITP] subsector’s contribution to regional and local communities.”

This is also the case for Otago Polytechnic, which has experienced solid growth, especially in the number of C researchers (an increase of 72% since 2012). Category C funding is based on the work of an active researcher who shows peer recognition for their research and includes a contribution to the research environment within their institution or the wider community during the assessment period.

“It is these researchers who are most likely to be working with communities and in areas of applied research,” says Professor Leoni Schmidt, Director: Research and Postgraduate Studies, Otago Polytechnic.

“Otago Polytechnic congratulates all its researchers, whose strong work has contributed to our success,” Prof Schmidt says.

“The level of funding will continue to stimulate our research, which is well-rounded, underpinning our teaching, and connected to Otago Polytechnic’s ongoing interaction with a broad range of communities.”

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