With a strategic emphasis on applied research, the University believes that research is an integral part of academic life on campus. It informs teaching and advances the frontiers of knowledge and technology, thus contributing to enhancing the competitiveness of business and industry, and the betterment of human life.
PolyU has a long-established innovative research culture, and is committed to continuing its pursuit for research excellence and to fostering a culture and environment where research can thrive and excel.
Research Committee
The Senate delegates all matters pertaining to research and research degrees to the Research Committee. The Committee is responsible for, amongst other matters, developing research and research-degree policies, formulating regulations and procedures, allocating research funds, and monitoring research progress and quality. Policies and decisions made by the Research Committee are implemented by the Research Office.
Committees are set up at faculty/school and departmental levels to support the monitoring of the progress and quality of research activities. This structure of governance provides a mechanism for debating and formulating research policies, ensuring the effective implementation of policies, providing adequate peer review at every level, and allowing for quality assurance and monitoring to ensure accountability in the use of resources.
Conduct of Research
The University has a robust system for monitoring all research activities to ensure the effective use of resources with a high level of performance. Policies and guidelines on the monitoring processes are outlined in the Handbook for Projects and Grants, and are subject to regular review by the Research Committee.
To maintain the highest ethical standards in the conduct of research, the Research Committee has developed a Code of Ethics in Research to provide staff and students with an understanding of the ethical expectations while conducting research in the University. Two sub-committees, namely the Human Subjects Ethics Sub-committee and the Animals Subject Ethics Sub-committee (Section 5b of the Handbook for Projects and Grants), are tasked with ensuring that staff and students using human or animal subjects in their research comply with the respective Code of Ethics.
The University is responsible for ensuring that research activities comply with the safety policies and procedures stipulated under the University’s Health and Safety Guide.
All researchers must observe the University’s Policy on Ownership of Intellectual Property when undertaking activities which involve the generation of intellectual property.
With a view to supporting the PolyU academic community in disseminating research results, the University has adopted the Open Access Policy in Support of Open and Unrestricted Access to Published Research since the 2010/11 academic year.
Utilization/Management of Research Resources
The University has in place a comprehensive framework on the utilization of internal research resources to ensure fairness in resources allocation. The process and determining criteria are documented in the Handbook for Projects and Grants, which is accessible by all eligible staff and students.
The University sets aside central funding to develop research strength in selected areas with a view to attaining impactful contributions and international excellence. The Areas of Excellence Committee governs all matters relating to research in such areas.
The University facilitates research collaborations within PolyU as well as with business, industry and government. The Handbook for Projects and Grants provides guidelines which ensure that collaboration with external parties is in the interests of the University and society as a whole. The Research Committee and the Areas of Excellence Committee are responsible for establishing policies governing the collaborative research initiatives and may establish research units to nurture internal research collaborations.
Research Postgraduate Programmes
The University offers outcome-based Research Postgraduate Programmes. Programme validation is conducted to ensure that these programmes meet the expected standards, and help departments and teaching staff concerned to improve all aspects of the programme. Programmes are also subject to regular review, which is part of the University’s quality learning and teaching assurance process.
The study of research postgraduate students is governed by the regulations and procedures laid down in the Handbook for Research Postgraduate Studies. These regulations and procedures are reviewed on a regular basis by the Research Committee and changes made when necessary.
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