Research Opportunities
UQ has a research agenda that is truly world-class and is appropriately reflected by UQ’s ranking inside the world’s top 50 universities and its membership of Australia’s prestigious Group of 8.
Research in the School is tied to everything we do. It informs our teaching and is the basis for the expertise we bring to our consulting work. In the classroom students are given the opportunity to not only hear from lecturers who are leading knowledge creators and agenda setters, but they are also able to be a part of this process through coursework research projects and our research higher degree programs. Many of our academic staff maintain close links with industry and government and their expertise is often drawn on in a consulting capacity.
Staff and students are researching in areas of study that are contributing to the knowledge base in disciplines outlined in the Research Profile.
Click here for the 2011 School of Tourism Research Profile
W.James Whyte Visiting Research Fellowship
It is envisaged that the W. James Whyte Visiting Research Fellow will establish research partnerships with staff to undertake joint research projects leading to the submission of jointly authored high quality publications and/or development of a collaborative external competitive grant submission. As part of the program the Fellow will present a ‘targeted expert’ workshops for staff and/or conduct practical workshops for staff in relation to developing competitive research grant proposals.
W. James Whyte Fellowship Guidelines
W. James Whyte Fellowship Application Form
UQ Winter Research Scholarship Program
In 2012, the Office of Undergraduate Education will pilot a Winter Research Program. The pilot has been established in response to strong participation rates in other undergraduate research activities, including the Summer Research Program and Undergraduate Research Conference, as well as the expression of interest from a number of academic staff. A small number of enrolling units will be invited to participate in this year’s pilot program, which has the following objectives:
- provide students, who are unable to participate in the Summer program with an opportunity to undertake a research project at UQ;
- provide additional opportunities for students from the Northern Hemisphere to work with a UQ advisor and undertake a research internship at UQ during their summer break;
- increase the number of UQ students participating in an undergraduate research program; and
- pilot the feasibility of an annual Winter Research Program by gauging; interest from academic units, level of student participation, suitability of timing, and the feasibility of a condensed winter program to significantly contribute to a particular research project.
UQ Winter Research Program Guidelines for Staff
UQ Winter Research Program Guidelines for Students
Application Form
Available School Projects
UQ Summer Research Scholarship Program
The UQ Summer Research Scholarship (SRS) Program offers scholarships to students who are engaged in research projects over the summer vacation period. This experience provides students with the opportunity to work with a researcher in a formal research environment so that they may experience the research process and discover what research is being undertaken in their field of interest at UQ. In addition, some students may qualify to receive a scholarship for the duration of their summer research project. Allocation of the scholarships is decided by the faculty, school, research centre or institute where the research is undertaken.
Below are the topics currently available in the School of Tourism:
Topic
Meta-Review of Australian Labour Market Research: 2000-2010
Academic contacts
David Solnet, Anna Hood, Richard Robinson
Details
This review is limited to government policy documents, peak association documents, commissioned research, industry reports e.g. Jackson Report, Parliamentary Standing Committees, STCRC reports, TTF, TRA.
Timing
We anticipate the project to run for 10 weeks to begin 14 Nov. 2011 and conclude 10 Feb., 2012 (with 3 weeks break over xmas/New Year period).
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Topic
Development of a tourism teaching simulation for TOUR3007 - Tourism Strategic Planning.
Academic contact
Noel Scott
Details
This project will involve a review of the literature of teaching using simulations and of existing software and simulation models available. The outcome will be identification or development of a case suitable for use in TOUR3007 in Semester 2 2012.
Timing
The project will run for 10 weeks between November 2011 and February 2012 as agreed with the successful applicant.
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Topic
The indirect impacts of natural disasters on small tourism operators
Academic Contacts
Brent Ritchie and Gabby Walters
Brief Details
This project will investigate the experiences of those small tourism operators who, despite suffering some consequences, were not be directly hit by the Queensland floods earlier this year. An interview schedule will be created and a series of structured interviews will be undertaken with small tourism operators in South East Queensland.
Timing
The project will run for 10 weeks, beginning end of November through to mid-February.
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Topic
Investigating Chinese wildlife tourists’ attitudes to the environment and animals
Academic contact
Professor Roy Ballantyne and Dr Jan Packer
Details
Enthusiastic Chinese speaking student with good English speaking and writing skills required.
Timing
Mid November to end of January (negotiable).
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Topic
Analysis of health tourism development in Australia.
Academic contact
Timothy Lee
Details
This project tries to collect secondary data to analyse the management, marketing and challenges of health tourism in Australia. Outcome is expected to produce good understanding of the industry and help investigate the current situation in comparison to other leading countries in the health tourism industry.
Timing
The project will run for 6 weeks from Nov 2011 to Jan 2012.
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Topic
Investigating Empirical Research into Tourism in World Heritage Areas
Academic contact
Noreen Breakey
Details
This project will review the World Heritage Area literature to identify the ‘cases’ focused on visitor experiences and/or management. Analysis of these cases will be undertaken to clarify which studies provide empirical data on the issues of tourism in World Heritage Areas. The expected outcome will be the preparation of a journal paper including literature review and a synthesis of the findings.
Timing
The project will run for 10 weeks beginning on Monday the 14th November 2011 and concluding in February 2012, with a break over the Christmas/New Year period, as agreed with the successful applicant.
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Topic
Festivals as Intangible Cultural Heritage
Academic contact
Dr Charles Arcodia
Brief description
UNESCO is the foremost international agency working in partnership with member states to preserve various examples of cultural heritage. Increasingly, cultural heritage has been recognised to also include “intangible elements” of cultural. This study will explore, through an initial analysis of the literature, the various aspects which form intangible cultural heritage, in particular the festival.
Timing
Negotiable approximately Nov 1-Dec 23 OR January 10- February 29
Topic
Moving away from a self-fulfilling prophecy: A tourist driven approach to understanding destination image.
Academic Contact
Aaron Tkaczynski
Brief Details
The project will involve an in-depth literature review of the literature which aims to evaluate the visual analysis of tourist image. Emerging tourist promotional mediums such as visitor blogs and flickr photos will need to be reviewed. The outcome will be the development of a literature review that can be used for destination case studies in early 2012.
Timing
It is estimated that the project will run from mid-November until early January. A three or four week break will be provided over Christmas.
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For further information on the program please click here
If you are interested in applying please complete the application form
