Quick Start Guide to Preparing your NTRO Submissions
What are Non-Traditional Research Outputs (NTROs)?
To be accepted into the UoM Collection NTROs must meet the University’s accepted definition of research:
The creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way to generate new concepts, methodologies and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative.
Non-traditional research outputs include, but are not limited to:
- Visual art works
- Creative writing
- Films
- Performances
- Recordings
- Music composition
- Building and design projects
- Curated exhibitions.
Submit your artistic and practice-based NTRO
Before submitting your NTRO via the ServiceNow form, you should review the ‘Research Statement Guide’ as well as 'Evidence of Output' and 'Evidence of Excellence' guides below.
NTRO Submission ServiceNow Request Form
What you need to provide
To add Non-Traditional / Artistic or Practice-based research outputs you need to prepare a Detailed Description of the NTRO, a Research Statement, and Supporting Evidence.
Research Statement Guide
A research statement is mandatory for original Research NTROs, it must be structured in 3 sections.
A research statement demonstrates how your work meets the University’s accepted definition of research. It must be no more than 2000 characters including spaces (around 250 words) and cannot contain any embedded links.
Research background
Briefly describe the aim of the research output, its context, and how it relates to the Field of Research.
Some possible prompts include:
- What research question does the output endeavour to answer?
- In what field, discipline, or tradition does it exist?
- What is its aim, purpose, or intent?
- What is the gap in knowledge it addresses?
Research contribution
Demonstrate the innovation or originality of this output, and how it brings new knowledge to the field.
Some possible prompts are:
- What new knowledge or innovation does this output represent?
- How did the research transform existing practices or methodologies?
- What did the work achieve?
- What new concepts were revealed through the work?
Research significance
Provide evidence of the excellence of this output. This can be demonstrated through citations/references by others, reviews, media coverage and/or promotion, awards or prizes, forming part of a successful funding application/project, etc.
Some possible prompts include:
- Which voices from the critical community testify to the output's excellence?
- How can the reception of the output by your peers, scholarly/critical community, or the public be verified?
- Has the output been reviewed in the media, or won prestigious awards or prizes?
Evidence of Output guide
A complete copy or rendering of the actual work is essential. This might involve providing:
- Scanned or digital copy of a musical score or textual work
- Media files for a film or recording.
In cases where this is not possible, a clear visual representation of the work can be used. This might include:
- Photographs of an installed artwork
- Scan of an exhibition catalogue
- Additional evidence, including promotional material.
*If you do not have a complete copy or rendering of the actual work, the University Digitisation Centre (UDC) may be able to assist you. Get in touch at digitisation-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au to discuss your requirements from their range of self-service equipment.
For portfolio outputs please include a copy or rendering of each component part.
Evidence of excellence guide (Optional)
Please provide copies of, or links to, documentation of how the output has been received by the critical community and your peers.
Such evidence might include:
- Citations or references by others
- Reviews and media coverage
- Inclusion in teaching syllabus
- Awards or prizes
- Forming part of a successful funding application/project.
This is in lieu of the peer review process undertaken for traditional research outputs.
Note: Both evidence of outputs and evidence of excellence are uploaded to Melbourne figshare by the researchers once prompted by ServiceNow notifications.