Regional Engagement Plan 2009-2011
Context
The University’s Mission Statement clearly outlines the emphasis it places on regional engagement:
To be the major catalyst for the innovative and sustainable economic, cultural and educational advancement of the region, through the pursuit of international standards in teaching, research and engagement.
Regional engagement at USC goes beyond traditional notions of knowledge creation and application as the University’s core business, to an approach that emphasises using the full resources of the University to catalyse sustainable regional development.
The Regional Engagement Plan supports the realisation of USC’s goal identified in the Strategic Plan to:
- engage in productive partnerships to further the region’s interests and the University’s strategic priorities.
These partnerships fall within a number of domains:
- Research and consultancy
- Learning and teaching
- Engagement focused on shared jointly funded infrastructure
- Engagement focused on support to advance the knowledge economy and
- Jobs and self employment for graduates.
Objectives and Strategies
Objective 1 Engage in productive partnerships to further the region’s interests and the University’s strategic priorities
Strategy 1.1 Promote and support research and consultancy effort that will contribute to advancing regional sustainability
Strategy 1.2 Promote and support learning and teaching by increasing the number of regional professions, businesses and industries in which students undertake Work Integrated Learning (WIL)
Strategy 1.3 Promote and support the advancement of the knowledge economy through:
- the operation of the Innovation Centre (high tech business incubator) and Business Accelerator
- national and international partnerships
- taking a lead role in the development of the Regional Innovation Partnership Taskforce
Strategy 1.4 Continue to develop shared infrastructure, key amongst those being the Health and Sport Precinct and associated teaching infrastructure and the Technology Park adjacent to the University
This will be measured by:
Strategic Plan Key Performance Indicator 4.1
Relationships and projects with strategic regional partners within the following domains:
| Description |
Measures |
Target |
Responsibility |
Research and consultancy
|
Number and value of research partnerships and consultancies |
Annual increase in percentage of overall research and consultancy income related to projects of regional relevance |
VC, DVC, Deans, Director, Regional Engagement, Director, TARS |
Learning and teaching
|
Number of regional professions, businesses and industries in which students undertake Work Integrated Learning (WIL) |
Increase number of regional professions, businesses and industries in which students undertake WIL |
DVC, Deans, Director, Regional Engagement, Director, Student Services
|
| Engagement, focussed on shared jointly funded infrastructure |
Number and value of shared jointly funded infrastructure |
Annual increase in number and value of shared jointly funded infrastructure |
VC, Director, CPO, Director, Regional Engagement |
| Engagement focussed on support to advance the knowledge economy |
Job and business creation data including range of services provided |
Annual increase in jobs and business created within the region |
VC, CEO, Innovation Centre, Director, Regional Engagement |
Regional Engagement Plan Key Performance Indicator 1.2
| Description |
Measures |
Target |
Responsibility |
Learning and Teaching
|
Number of regional industry and professional partners in which students undertake WIL |
Annual increase in regional and professional partners |
DVC, Deans, Director Regional Engagement, Director Student Services |
Regional Engagement Plan Key Performance Indicator 1.3
| Description |
Measures |
Target |
Responsibility |
| Engagement focussed on support to advance the knowledge economy |
Number of companies supported
Success rates of companies supported
Number of people employed by clients/tenants
Joint projects undertaken with national and international partners |
Annual increases |
VC, CEO Innovation Centre, Director Regional Engagement
VC, CEO Innovation Centre, Director Regional Engagement |
Objective 2 Prepare graduates capable of contributing to the achievement of regional economic, social, cultural and environmental priorities
Strategy 2.1 Conduct a preliminary Collaboration and Structural Reform (CASR) funded project – the Optimisation Project – to evaluate cross university and VET program provision with a view to enhancing institutional efficiency and achieving strong graduate outcomes for the Sunshine Coast and Wide-Bay Burnett regions
This will be measured by:
Regional Engagement Plan Key Performance Indicator 2.1
| Description |
Measures |
Target |
Responsibility |
Graduate outcomes for the Sunshine Coast and Wide-Bay Burnett regions
|
Completion of the Project |
Completion of the project consistent with established milestones |
DVC, CASR Steering Group, CASR Project Group |
Strategic plan Key Performance Indicator 4.2
| Description |
Measures |
Target |
Responsibility |
| Number of graduating students employed in the region |
Number of graduating students employed or self employed in the region within four months of graduation |
Annual increase in number of graduates employed or self employed in the region |
Deans, Director, Student Services |
Strategy 2.2 Implement student enterprise (entrepreneurship) initiatives including the Enterprisers program run in conjunction with Cambridge University and MIT
This will be measured by:
Regional Engagement Plan Key Performance Indicator 2.2
| Description |
Measures |
Target |
Responsibility |
| Student enterprise initiatives |
Students completing internships in the Innovation Centre/Accelerator
Entrepreneurship initiatives including Enterprisers program |
Annual increase in number of students completing internships
Increase in student participation |
VC, CEO Innovation Centre, Director Regional Engagement
VC, CEO Innovation Centre, Director Regional Engagement |