Abstract:
The amalgamation of the Auckland College of Education with the School of Education at The University of Auckland in late 2004 necessitated restructuring of the institution as a whole and a strategic approach to building research capacity and capability within the new Faculty of Education. The research project reported here investigated productive ways to support staff research development and accelerate the production of research outputs. Based on the findings of the literature review we implemented and evaluated a series of academic writing workshops, interviewed Deans and other senior academics at institutions similar to ourselves in NZ and internationally, and interviewed a sample of academics at the Faculty about supports and inhibitors for research activity. The findings indicated that there are some outstanding performers in the Faculty but that a relatively large number of staff needed to increase the quality and quantity of their research outputs. Seven aspects were identified where changes could be made to support the development of staff as researchers. Six inhibiting factors also emerged. These findings assisted the authors to win a substantial grant to build research capacity and capability in the Faculty in 2007. The initiatives established to build more productive communities of research practice within the Faculty are also reported in the paper.