Research

Research & Scholarship

Systematic investigation undertaken to discover new knowledge, develop understanding or solve problems, spanning fundamental and applied work.

Research is a core mission of universities alongside teaching, evaluated through publications, patents, funded projects and impact. A strong research culture attracts funding, talent and collaboration and is heavily weighted in global rankings.

Related Terms
Publication
The dissemination of original research findings through peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, books or book chapters.
Patent
A legal right granted by a government giving an inventor exclusive control over an invention for a limited period in exchange for public disclosure.
Citation Index
A database that measures how often research outputs are cited, such as Scopus or Web of Science.
h-index
A metric of a researcher's productivity and citation impact, balancing number of publications with how often they are cited.
Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR)
An institutional function, common at technology and research universities, that manages engagement with industry and external funding agencies, overseeing sponsored research and consultancy.