A standard feature of Cooperative Research Centres is that they
work with Industry and Research Institutions to produce young
researchers who are focused on the needs of Industry – for
example by supporting a PhD. Program in which students work closely
with industry. The TS-CRC is no exception and since 1995 it has
supported 35 Ph.D. students who worked on research relevant to the
savanna “industries”: the government departments and
agencies, the grazing enterprises and communities that have to
manage the tropical savannas.
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CRC supported PhD students study topics of practiocal
interest to savanna land managers
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The areas studied ranged from the ecology of threatened or
significant species, to the operation of community NRM groups, how
pastoralists make decisions, and Indigenous perspectives on work.
In all these studies, students had at least one supervisor from a
savanna industry partner to ensure the project remained practically
relevant to industry. Many of the students have gone on to play
significant roles in north Australian NRM research and
management.
A survey of a broad range of tropical savanna land managers
conducted by the Centre in its early years, showed that they also
valued graduates who were not full-time researchers but who had
certificate, diploma and masters qualifications related to savanna
NRM and who worked in industry and planning roles. Consequently the
Centre helped Charles Darwin and James Cook Universities establish
certificate, diploma, masters and Professional Doctorate courses in
Tropical Environmental Management.
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The courses in environmental management brought
students with current savanna management issues
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These course have now produced 68 graduates who have been exposed
to the latest ideas on savanna management. These graduates have
gone on to fill a range of industry roles across the tropical
savannas ranging from positions with Government Agencies and local
councils, positions with Mining Companies, environmental
consultancies, positions working with Indigenous communities,
regional NRM groups and NGOs. Courses are continuing to be
delivered through Charles Darwin University with units available
through James Cook University.
The Professional Doctorate in Tropical Environmental Management
course is equivalent to the usual research PhD, but has clear links
to industry through professional placement with one of the
CRC’s ex partner agencies and a research program. This
program is offered through Charles Darwin, Queensland and James
Cook University. It was started in 2007.
