myResearch (formerly IRAS) update

In 2016, Monash University will implement new systems and processes to support the research lifecycle through a project called myResearch. This project was formerly known as the Integrated Research Administration System (IRAS).

The new systems and processes will cover the following areas:

• Grant and contract applications
• Post-award management
• Research outputs
• Web profiles and CVs
• Ethics
• Reporting

Benefits
myResearch uses IT systems that have been designed with researcher needs at the forefront. Infonetica is the system that will support ethics management, and Pure is the system that will support all other areas.

Benefits include:

• The ability for researchers to create and submit applications for research funding online to enable internal review and approval, removing the need for paper forms and signatures
• Accessible information about grants and contracts at all stages, from application through to post-award, in an easy-to-navigate online environment, allowing visibility of the status of grant applications and awarded grants and research contracts
• Better overall management of research project milestones, making it easier to keep the information updated and current
• Improved recording of research publications data, including automatic harvesting of indexed research outputs, simplifying the process of manually adding research outputs to the system
• The ability for researchers to add and manage a broad range of activities to add to web profiles and CVs, providing a richer picture of academic achievements
• Submission of ethics applications online with clear visibility of the status of ethics approval and milestones throughout a project
• ​S​implified and common business processes across faculties and central divisions

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Timing
There will be two Go Live dates in 2016:

·        Approx. March 2016 – Infonetica (ethics)

·        Mid-2016 – Pure (award management, research outputs, web profiles, CVs and reporting)

Once both systems and the new processes have been activated the current systems and processes (including Research Master and Ropes) will be decommissioned.
Opportunities for early viewing and feedback
We would like to encourage researchers and professional staff to provide feedback on the processes. We are running guided explorations on various topics, in which participants get to practise an activity utilising the new system and provide feedback to us. Business Change Managers within each Faculty or Division are able to arrange for staff to participate in these explorations.
We are also running workshops and showcases on advertised dates (see the Events section of the myResearch website). These are open to all researchers and professional staff. Staff will be able to view elements of the system, engage in discussion and provide feedback.
Researchers and professional staff are vital to the success of this implementation. We strongly encourage staff to participate, so that we can address issues and work towards better meeting user needs.

For more information, please see the myResearch website.