Summary

Regional and smaller universities have a need to access, manage and disseminate research information and learning resources in much the same way as the large established research universities but often face significant challenges in establishing appropriate infrastructure.  The proposal aims to meet the needs of smaller and regional universities by developing sustainable infrastructure for the deployment of best practice emerging from the ARIIC SII first round projects, known as FRODO. 

First, the proposal has the aim of implementing best practice at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) to clarify implementation issues surrounding repository based research infrastructure in regional Australia and, most importantly, to build capability.  Second, the proposal will provide a vehicle for an assisted take-up service with other regional universities.  The inclusion of the University of Newcastle as an IRUA representative in this partnership will provide a strategic and operational link into other non-regional collaborations.  They share the need to expose their research but encounter difficulties similar to regionals when compared with larger Universities.  The University of Newcastle will apply RUBRIC defined practices within the IRUA consortium, with Macquarie University, Murdoch University and Flinders University having pledged cooperation. 

Overall, the proposal will build capability across smaller research universities enabling the research output of those institutions to be available trans-nationally, contributing to the research mission of higher education in Australia and internationally through collaboration with NZ partners.