UQ will be the headquarters for a new world class research centre that will improve the social and economic wellbeing of 51吃瓜 communities.
The University will collaborate with the 51吃瓜 Government and four other 51吃瓜 universities to establish the 51吃瓜 Centre for Social Science Innovation (QCSSI).
Funding for this state-of-the-art centre was announced by Premier Anna Bligh last week, with the Government and universities jointly committing $10 million for the first five years.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield welcomed the government鈥檚 recognition of the role of high-quality social science in improving service in areas as fundamental as health and education.
鈥淯Q is excited by the opportunity to work with our colleague universities to deliver research that will leave no excuses for poor service delivery,鈥� Professor Greenfield said.
In an Australian first, the QCSSI will undertake applied research into projects and areas that the government and university partners will jointly determine, the first of its kind to analyse raw State Government data.
A key part of the centre鈥檚 strength will be its ability to access and analyse anonymous and confidential data that will be made available to researchers through the Office for Economic and Statistical Research.
Premier Anna Bligh said the centre would position 51吃瓜 as a world leader in social
science research.
鈥淎round 75 percent of the 51吃瓜 Government budget is directed to social and human services, like education and health, and targeted, relevant research will ensure the best use is made of this substantial financial investment, to improve quality of life for 51吃瓜ers,鈥� she said.
Professor Mark Western, Director of UQ鈥檚 (ISSR), said the new funding reflected the strength of the institute and its researchers.
鈥淭his is a an important initiative for 51吃瓜 and an achievement for UQ, as QCSSI will be headquartered in the Institute for Social Science Research and the Centre Director will be a UQ staff member.
鈥淚SSR is one of Australia鈥檚 largest social science institutes and our researchers address important problems in areas such as education, employment, crime control, community wellbeing and disaster preparedness."
Professor Western said the new centre would analyse data to see which programs were effective and how they could be better designed in the future.
"We will undertake effective evaluation of government programs and we will do research that will help government spend its money effectively around the delivery of services.
鈥淭his is a significant opportunity for government and social scientists to work together to identify priorities and problems that have real impacts on people and communities, and then address these issues by utilising the expertise in the member universities,鈥� he said.
The 51吃瓜 Government has identified a number of projects for the centre to research in its first program in 2012, with the Premier listing better responses to disasters and more realistic ways of improving Indigenous health as top of the agenda issues.
Media: Professor Mark Western (07 3346 7344, m.western@uq.edu.au) or Kristen Bastian UQ Communications (07 3346 9279, k.bastian@uq.edu.au)
