16. Academic Freedom

16.1 While UNIMAS researchers are entirely free to determine their own research approaches and agendas, UNIMAS reserves the right to prioritise support for research that falls within the University’s focus areas. Non-prioritised/complementary research may be funded at the discretion of the University but shall not take precedence in the allocation of University resources.

16.2 Given the different disciplines in which research occurs in the University, researchers are encouraged to pursue different styles and approaches to research. No one model of research enterprise is valued more than others given the varying cultures, traditions and infrastructural requirements of the different disciplines. Instead, the value of a research approach is only determined by its intellectual, social, cultural and economic outcomes.

16.3 UNIMAS is however conscious of certain priority areas of research as determined by the government. There may be occasions when the University is required to implement certain key research projects commissioned by the government (known as “top down” research). It is thus necessary and consistent that the University meets these official research demands so as to ensure the University contributes towards key national development priorities in line with its mandate as a public university. Under these circumstances, researchers are encouraged to focus their research efforts in a way that will not only meet their own research interests but also that of the country, University and faculty/institute.

16.4 No researcher is obliged to work on research projects in which they do not have a research interest.

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