In figures released today by the University’s Centre of Research and Graduate Training, research income increased by more than half and the number of publications produced by CSU academics almost doubled.

The figures were last week presented to the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs as part of the University’s annual performance report. The research statistics are used to determine funding to universities in Australia. 

“This is a terrific result for the University, which will boost our research profile and enhance our capacity to undertake further research projects and to supervise more research students,” the Pro- Vice-Chancellor (Research and Graduate Training) Professor Paul Burnett said.

Professor Burnett attributed the rises to significant efforts by CSU’s researchers, who he congratulated on their performance. 

Major contributions to the 66 per cent increase in research income were the establishment of the CSU Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics in Canberra and the inclusion of the Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) in the data. 

“The CRCs in Sustainable Rice Production, Viticulture, Weed Management and Sustainable Tourism received $500 000 from government and industry to support their research efforts.

“An increase of $400 000 in new research grants topped off an outstanding year in which research income totalled $4.89 million, up from $2.94 million,” Professor Burnett said.

Another enormous jump was in the University’s research publications – with a 96 per cent rise in the number of books, book chapters, peer-referred articles and conference papers reported by CSU academics. 

“Books such as Associate Professor Margaret Alston’s outstanding Breaking Through the Grass Ceiling contributed to a publication total of 216, which is up from 110 in 1999,” Professor Burnett said.