Convocation Postgraduate Research Travel Award * [F7517]

Members of Convocation, the UWA Graduates Association, provided an initial donation of $16,750 to establish a travel award to mark the 75th anniversary of the University. Since then further donations from members of Convocation and funding from the University Research Committee, the Postgraduate Students Association and BankWest have provided additional awards including awards to be known as the Geoffrey Kennedy Postgraduate Research Travel Award, the Alexander K. Cohen Postgraduate Research Travel Award, the Ken and Julie Michael Postgraduate Research Travel Award and one or more Postgraduate Students Association Award(s). The remaining awards will be known as the Convocation Postgraduate Research Travel Awards. The awards are administered in accordance with the following conditions.

Purpose
1. The object of the awards is to enable postgraduate research students of the University to enhance and to gain new perspectives on their work through travel within Australia or overseas.

Value
2. The funding available comprises:

(a) annual income from the initial fund, after capitalisation in accordance with Senate policy;

(b) additional funding by the Council of Convocation, the University Research Committee and the Postgraduate Students Association; and

(c) income derived from the BankWest Visa-Card Scheme.

3. The funding available provides one or more awards each year, the value and conditions of the awards in any year being determined by the Council of Convocation on the recommendation of the selection committee for the awards.

Eligibility
4. To be eligible to apply for an award an applicant must be currently enrolled for a higher degree by research at this University.

Body Responsible for Selection
5. The selection committee for the award comprises:

(a) the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Research Training) or nominee;

(b) the Warden of Convocation or nominee;

(c) two members of the Council of Convocation nominated by the Warden;

(d) the President of the Postgraduate Students' Association or nominee; and

(e) an additional member of the Postgraduate Students' Association recommended by the Postgraduate Students' Association's Committee.

Selection Criteria
6.(1) The award is made by the selection committee to the applicant(s) who, in its opinion, best demonstrates through their application:

(a) the proposed research to be undertaken;

(b) the relevance of the proposed travel to current and future work;

(c) how the proposed travel benefits or enhances the applicant's research programme as outlined in the research proposal lodged with the Graduate Research School; [See (2) below]

(d) the benefits for the student and the University, which are expected to arise from the proposed travel;  [See (2) below]

(e) the reasons for visiting any institution and the proposed duration of the visit;

(f) the estimated cost of travel, accommodation and incidentals;

(g) a recommendation on the proposal and a report on the applicant's work to date from their head of school in consultation with relevant academic staff members; and

(h) academic achievement as evidenced by their academic record.

(2) Details of the benefits or enhancements which must be included under (1)(c) and (d) require written endorsement by the applicant's supervisor(s).

Selection Process
7. The award is made by the Council of Convocation on the recommendation of the selection committee.

Awarding Body
8. The award is made by the Council of Convocation.

Method of Payment
9. The award is paid in one instalment upon presentation of original receipts for travel up to a maximum value determined each year by the Council.

Application Procedure
10. (1) Applications must be submitted on the approved form which is available from the Office of Convocation or via the Convocation home page on the University web site at http://www.uwa.edu.au/ from 1 July each year.

(2) Application must be received in the Office of Convocation by 5 p.m. on the advertised closing date in the year preceding that for which the award is sought.

(3) An applicant must include in their application—

(a) a curriculum vitae;

(b) an application addressing the points outlined in 6.(1)(a) to (f) inclusive; and

(c) a copy of the applicant's academic record.

Administering Body
11. The award is administered by the Office of Convocation.

Other Conditions
12. Each successful applicant must deliver a report to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research Training) and may be asked to make a short presentation about the travel undertaken to a meeting of Convocation, nominated by the Warden of Convocation, not later than 12 months after their return from the travel for which the award was made.

Publications
13. Any thesis or other publication arising from research financed wholly or partly by an award must acknowledge the assistance of the Convocation Postgraduate Research Travel Award and must use the University by-line.

Intellectual Property
14. Intellectual property is governed by the University's Intellectual Property policy available on the University's web site at http://www.legalservices.uwa.edu.au/lso/ip_res_contracts/2._ip_policy/ip_policy.