ARC Linkage Project - IT Service Management Research

The ARC Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry) – Information Technology (APAI-IT) scholarship is available to a student of exceptional research potential undertaking a Higher Degree by Research (Doctor of Philosophy) in the specific field of IT service management. The recipient of this award will receive a stipend jointly funded by the Australian Research Council and Queensland Health. The project will develop a performance measurement framework of IT service management to improve crucial IT infrastructure in private and public sector organisations. This project is a joint research effort between USQ, Queensland Health, and the IT Service Management Forum (itSMF) Australia.

Scholarship Value

The Award provides a yearly tax-free stipend of $35,000 per annum to the successful applicant. Payments are made on a fortnightly basis over the year. The period of tenure of the award is 3 years, commencing on or before Semester 1, 2009. 

Eligibility

The Award will only be available to students who:

• are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens;
• meet the entry requirements for the doctoral degree and have completed a Bachelors Degree with First Class Honours or equivalent;
• are enrolling as a full-time on-campus student in the doctoral degree in the University of Southern Queensland Faculty of Business, Toowoomba;
• are not receiving similar funding or stipend from a Commonwealth Government program;
• have not already completed a degree at the same level as the proposed APAI candidature or at a higher level in the same field of endeavour;
• have not previously held an Australian Postgraduate Award or APAI unless it was terminated within the first six months of the earlier award;
• have an undergraduate degree qualification and/or industry expertise relevant to IT Service management (may include, but not limited to Business and IT Bachelors Degrees).

Conditions

• the scholarship will be paid directly to the student on a fortnightly basis
• the successful candidate is permitted up to eight (8) hours per week of paid work. Work must not interfere with the student's work program
• scholarships are not transferable to other students in any circumstances
• the scholarship will be forfeited if the recipient cancels enrolment in the program at the University of Southern Queensland
• the scholarship will be forfeited should the student transfer to another institution
• the scholarship is only valid for the research project as approved by the Australian Research Council
• payment of the scholarship is subject to an annual review and may be terminated if performance is unsatisfactory

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be assessed on the basis of academic merit, research capacity and qualifications/expertise relevant to the proposed research topic of IT service management. Applicants will also need to demonstrate that the eligibility requirements are met and have applied for enrolment or be enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy program full-time on-campus at USQ. Further details on enrolment requirements can be found at http://www.usq.edu.au/research/students/default.htm.

Submitting an Application

To apply for this scholarship, applicants must provide their curriculum vitae, academic record and the names and contact details of three academic or industry referees. A brief statement on the applicant’s ability to meet the Selection Criteria should also be provided.   All documentation must be submitted to:

Office of Research and Higher Degrees
University of Southern Queensland
Toowoomba, Queensland State 4350
AUSTRALIA

Electronic or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Closing Date

The closing date for the submission of applications is 31 October 2008.

Further Information

Further information about this scholarship can be obtained from the Office of Research and Higher Degrees at ohrd@usq.edu.au. Technical details about the proposed IT Service Management research topic can be obtained by contacting Dr Aileen Cater-Steel, Faculty of Business at caterst@usq.edu.au