August 30, 2022

UOW announces Global Research Small Grants Scheme recipients

Funding to foster research collaboration between UOW's global campuses

Researchers from the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) global network of campuses have been awarded research grants as part of the University’s Global Research Small Grants Scheme announced today, Tuesday 30 August.

The Scheme was launched by the University at its Global Collaborate Conference last year hosted by UOW Global Enterprises (UOWGE) to celebrate research collaborations between its global networks and reflect on the potential for future multi-campus projects.

Approximately A$50,000 has been allocated for research on a variety of challenges that have a direct impact on local communities.

The projects that received funding focus on a variety of multi-disciplinary global research issues such as the impacts of COVID-19 on tourism, building SMART Cities and transportation for better future, dealing with global health challenges, and investing in educational research. As part of the eligibility, researchers from at least three UOW’s global campuses must be involved in the project.

The applications were analysed by Executive Committee members comprised of Professor Christian Ritz (Wollongong campus), Dr Mai El Barachi (Dubai campus), Professor Geoffrey Blowers (Hong Kong campus) and Ir. Dr Gomesh Nair (Malaysia).

Professor Christian Ritz, Associate Dean of Research at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, congratulated all the grant recipients and commended the diverse range of research happening across UOW.

“I am delighted to see all the amazing work happening across UOW’s campuses,” Professor Ritz said.

“I’d like to congratulate all the successful researchers in being awarded a Global Research Small Grant.

“It is really great to see such a diverse range of globally relevant projects involving collaborative research teams from UOW Dubai, UOW College Hong Kong, UOW Malaysia KDU and our Australian campuses.”

Dr Mai El Barachi, Computer Science and Information Systems Director in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences at UOW Dubai said the cross collaboration of research between campuses is a testament to the outstanding talent of the University.

“UOW has the biggest offshore presence internationally of any Australian university,” Dr El Barachi said.

“The collaboration between the researchers is critical to give an impetus to innovation and bring the best knowledge and experience together to solve complex issues of the day.”

UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Patricia M. Davidson congratulated all the researchers and said the University was committed to diversity and making research collaborations between UOW’s global campuses a priority.

“The grants complement and fulfil one of UOW’s strategic goals to promote and celebrate research excellence and diversity. This is a great example of cross collaboration and bringing inclusivity as part of the initiative,” Professor Davidson said.

“The funding for these grants will go towards solving complex global issues that need immediate attention.”

UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Health and Sustainable Futures) Professor David Currow congratulated the researchers and said the grants will further strengthen research collaboration across UOW’s global network.

“I am delighted to see the increased engagement in global collaborations between UOW’s entities to deliver impactful research outcomes,” Professor Currow said.

“These collaborations occurring across our entities reflect on the potential for future multi-campus projects.”

The University will host its next UOW Global Collaborate Conference 2022 in November where speakers will share projects from the university’s global network of campuses in research and teaching & learning.

Funding recipients:

• Dr Marianito Rodrigo from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences (Wollongong campus), Assistant Professor Imene Ajala from the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Health (UOW Dubai), and Dr Irhanida from the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts (UOW Malaysia KDU) have been awarded A$8,500 for a project that focuses on modelling the impact of COVID-19 to tourism area life cycles.

• Associate Professor Vikash Ramiah from the Faculty of Business, Finance and Management (UOW Dubai), Dr Ivy Zhou from the Faculty of Business and Law (Wollongong campus), Assistant Professor Toby Man Kit Butt from the Faculty of Business (UOW College, Hong Kong), Associate Professor Stephen Wilkinson from the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Sciences (UOW Dubai), Associate Professor Alison Thirlwall from the Faculty of Business, Finance and Management (UOW Dubai), and Assistant Professor Nermeen Mustafa from the Faculty of Business, Finance and Management (UOW Dubai) have been awarded A$5,000 for a project investigating into the financial consequences of the EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities. 

• Dr Emmanuel Bannor Boateng from the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (Wollongong campus), Dr Vinod Gopaldasani from the Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (Wollongong campus), Dr Ho Lam Lau from the Faculty of Science and Technology (UOW College, Hong Kong), Associate Professor Stephen Wilkinson from the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Sciences (UOW Dubai), Dr Aziz Ahmed from the School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering (Wollongong campus), Associate Professor Hazem Gouda from Faculty of Engineering & Information Sciences (UOW Dubai) and Frederick Anlimah Kaku Ackah, PhD candidate (Wollongong campus) have received A$7,850.40 for developing a chatbot for sharing construction safety knowledge.

• Professor Anthony Okely from the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (Wollongong campus), Associate Professor Alison Thirlwall from the Faculty of Business, Finance and Management (UOW Dubai), and Magesvari Subramaniam from the School of Nursing and Allied Health (UOW Malaysia KDU) have received A$9,350 for building research partnerships in child health among UOW Campuses. 

• Dr Zeenath Reza Khan from the Faculty of Engineering & Information Sciences (UOW Dubai), Professor Ann Rogerson from the Faculty of Business and Law (Wollongong campus), Dr Belinda Gibbons from the Faculty of Business and Law (Wollongong campus), Dr Ng Fong Chiu from the School of Computing and Creative Media (UOW Malaysia KDU), Ajrina Hysaj, Language Instructor (UOW Dubai), Professor Melodena Stephens (Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, Dubai) and members from the European Network for Academic Integrity (Erasmus+) have been awarded A$6,995 for researching into the academic integrity as key competence for sustainable development and UNSDGs.

• Dr Ruwan J Bandara from the Faculty of Business, Finance and Management (UOW Dubai), Dr Roba Abbas from the Faculty of Business and Law (Wollongong campus), Professor Payyazhi Jayashree from the Faculty of Business, Finance and Management (UOW Dubai), Honorary Professor Katina Michael from the School of Business (Wollongong campus), Associate Professor Yiyang Bian from the Faculty of Business, Finance and Management (UOW Dubai), Associate Professor J. Joshua Thomas from the School of Computing and Creative Media (UOW Malaysia KDU), and Assistant Professor Prithvi Bhattacharya from the Faculty of Business, Finance and Management (UOW Dubai), and Kho Wen Lin from the School of Business (UOW Malaysia) have been awarded A$3,500 for a project titled ‘AI Bias, Inclusive Smart Cities and the Future of Work: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective.’ 

• Associate Professor Haroon Khan from the Faculty of Business, Finance and Management (UOW Dubai), Associate Professor Kashif Saleem from the Faculty of Business, Finance and Management (UOW Dubai), Dr Seerat Ali from the Faculty of Business and Law (Wollongong campus), Dr Abdullah Al-Mamun from the Faculty of Business and Law (Wollongong campus), Associate Professor Osama Al-Hares from the Faculty of Business, Finance and Management (UOW Dubai), and Assistant Professor Toby Man Kit Butt (UOW College, Hong Kong) have been awarded A$3,500 for a project titled ‘How do Diversity on board of directors effect carbon information disclosure? Evidence from Australasian Countries.’

• Dr Ibrahim Alananzeh from the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Health (UOW Dubai), Associate Professor J. Joshua Thomas, from the School of Computing and Creative Media (UOW Malaysia KDU), Assistant Professor Hock Chuan Lim from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences (UOW Dubai), Assistant Professor Noor Hasbi Yusoff from the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Health (UOW Dubai), Professor Ritin Fernandez from the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health (Wollongong campus), Heidi Green, PhD candidate (Wollongong campus) have been awarded A$5,000 for digitizing the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions, and Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model with multi-disciplinary framework for Cancer Survivors’ well-being.