Outside studies program
41. OUTSIDE STUDIES PROGRAM
41.1 The University provides for an Outside Studies Program (OSP) to enable Academic Staff to undertake a structured program of sustained scholarship, research and associated developmental activities either within the Sydney metropolitan area (including at the University) or elsewhere in Australia or overseas. It implements this through two forms of OSP Fellowship – an Internal Fellowship and an External Fellowship.
41.2 Internal Fellowships may be granted to staff planning to spend most of their time in metropolitan Sydney (including at the University).
41.3 External Fellowships may be granted to staff planning to spend a continuous period of at least one month of the total OSP at another institution/organisation within Australia (beyond metropolitan Sydney) or overseas. External Fellowships include a grant-in-aid.
41.4 All continuing full-time and part-time Academic Staff and Academic Staff appointed on a fixed term contract in excess of three years, who plan to undertake a structured program of sustained scholarship, are eligible to apply for OSP in accordance with the University's Outside Studies Program policy in place from time to time.
41.5 Eligible Staff, who are new to the University, must have at least three years service between their commencement at the University and the start date of the proposed OSP. For other eligible Staff, at least three years must have elapsed between one period of OSP and the beginning of a new period of OSP.
41.6 Fellowships will be available to Staff who meet the University's definition of Research Active (adjusted on a proportionate basis for part-time Staff), are early career researchers, are Teaching and Leadership or Teaching/Industry/Commercial Academics or are working towards completion of a relevant doctoral qualification or Higher Degree Research program.
41.7 Teaching and Research Academics who do not meet the definition of Research Active may put forward a case for exemption from this criterion. Particular consideration will be given to Staff who have not been able to meet the definition due to carer responsibilities, personal illness, a period on a teaching or administration/service/management weighted workload or Staff starting their research career.
41.8 The maximum percentage of Staff who may be awarded a Fellowship (internal and external) will be 14% of Academic Staff within a Faculty or academic unit per six month OSP period.
41.9 The maximum period of an OSP Fellowship will generally be six months. The period of OSP Fellowship cannot be spread over more than one half year teaching period, unless it is proposed and approved in advance by the relevant Executive Dean. Fellowships are granted on the understanding that the Staff Member will remain with the University to complete the necessary reporting requirements.
41.10 Approval, by the relevant Executive Dean, will be based on criteria including but not limited to the following:
(a) the quality of the proposed program, including evidence of clear and detailed planning, appropriate choice of host institution(s) and expected outcomes to be generated;
(b) the contribution of the OSP to University, Faculty and Department research goals and to the applicant's own career development;
(c) the submission of a report in accordance with policy following previous periods of OSP;
(d) the outcomes from any previous periods of OSP; and
(e) the impact on the Department/Faculty teaching commitments.
41.11 In accordance with the University's commitment to providing equal employment opportunities for all staff, the Executive Dean, when considering a proposal, should be sensitive to the special needs of individual Staff arising from different career histories or histories of special disadvantage.
41.12 On request from the Staff Member, the Executive Dean will provide in writing the reasons for an application being unsuccessful.
41.13 An Appeals committee, constituted in accordance with OSP policy in place from time to time, will consider either or both the process and the merits of an application as requested by an unsuccessful applicant and provide feedback on the outcome of the appeal.