In 2013, when Macquarie first started to develop our Strategic Research Framework 2015 – 2024, we were achieving $44m in annual research income, 270 HDR completions, and were ranked 263 in the QS World University Rankings and between 276-300 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. 

Eight years later, our researchers are now attracting $85m in research income, completing a record number of HDR candidates, and our reputation for world-leading research has contributed to rankings of 195 and 200 respectively in the THE and QS World University Rankings.  These results, achieved at the halfway point of the Strategic Research Framework, are testament to the commitment and excellence of our researchers and research support staff.

Now  – with an appreciation of the journey undertaken and celebrating our achievements thus far –  the refreshed Strategic Research Framework – Research Strategy 2025 – consolidates Macquarie’s commitment to world-leading research with world-changing impact.  Research Strategy 2025 responds to the changing and challenging research environment with a revitalised focus and roadmap to achieve our bold aspirations into the future.

“Our mission is to focus our disciplinary and cross-disciplinary research effort, leading the way in a select range of areas, to build excellence at scale, to ensure our research has impact both within the academy and beyond, and to establish a reputation that will further attract world-class researchers, HDR candidates, collaborators and funding support.”

In releasing Research Strategy 2025, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Sakkie Pretorius says the strategy strives to provide a clear vision with durable strategic direction, without constraining the creative and dynamic nature of cutting-edge research, development, innovation and impact in a changing environment.

“Our original Framework was developed with the intention that it be reviewed and refreshed at the halfway point,” he says. “While we couldn’t have foreseen how much the world around us would change, many elements of the Framework, such as our five Future-shaping Research Priorities and our four Key Objectives remain just as relevant now as they were when the Framework was developed.  

“Other elements, such as the 2024 research targets, have been revised as part of the refresh to take account of the far-reaching impact Covid-19 related restrictions have had on the higher education sector and research.”

Our refreshed research targets

Research Strategy 2025 is also nuanced by the University’s Operating Plan targets and by its strong emphasis on sharpening the focus of our investment in research. The new FOCI [Focus, Opportunity, Consilience, Impact] approach to internal research investment seeks to cultivate multidisciplinary research as key to achieving impact in the emerging research landscape.

“Research Strategy 2025 provides context and a vision for Macquarie’s research aspirations, and strategies for how we will achieve them,” says Professor Pretorius. “I look forward to working with the Macquarie community, to hunting in packs and to investing in excellence, to achieve our 2024 research targets and, more importantly, to delivering world-leading research with world-changing impact”.

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View our Research Strategy 2025.