i. Objectives

• To conduct both qualitative and quantitative research relating to business and policy; provide consultancy services to industries/ government agencies/ community.
• To build a research culture and expand research community with wide-ranging interests in many specialist areas.
• To develop several areas of excellence which will bring distinctiveness to the work of the faculty, the programmes the faculty offers and the wider community.
• To collaborate with private sector and various industries in terms of relevant market-driven, and business-related projects and any consultancy thereof.
• To form and develop research partnership/authorship with public and private sectors/ institutions/ industries nationally and/or internationally to produce books and high impact journal articles.
• To invite prominent speaker and subject experts from academics/ industry practitioners (nationally and internationally) to share their experience; and to facilitate relevant talk/ seminar/ symposium/ workshop/ colloquium primarily on research methodology.
• To provide research-led training courses for the faculty’s academicians and students to learn, nurture and hone their research skills as well as competencies.

ii. Vision Statement

The Centre strives to become a premier research center in the areas of business and policy, and collaborate with world leading research centers in producing top tier research findings.

iii. Rationale and Research Plan

The Center aims to

• Conduct research relating to business and policy
• Identify priority areas of research under the Faculty
• Facilitate and support research activities undertaken by the Faculty via research seminars and workshops
• Provides consultancy to external parties as well as establish excellent climate of research collaborations with government agencies, other higher education institutions so as to elevate the quality of the Faculty’s research.

The Centre will collaborate with other research centers within and outside the University to conduct research on business issues and policy implementation. Also, the Centre will offer comprehensive consultancy services with regard to political, economic and social issues to business organisations and government agencies.

iv. Research Centre Members and Term of Reference

Research Center Members

• Leader – Dr. Foo Lee Peng
• Secretary – (Assistant Registrar, FAFB)
• Members – Assoc. Prof. Puan Sri Dr Mary Lee Siew Cheng, Dr. Chow Poh Ling, Dr Koh Chin Wei, Dr. Chow Yee Peng, Ms. Kong Chai Sin, Mr. Lai Tak Kong, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wong Mei Foong, Dr. Fiona Jane Francis,  Dr. Lim Chia Yien and any interested relevant academic staff who may be appointed from time to time.

Terms of Reference

• Promote research culture amongst staff and identify priority areas of research under the Faculty.
• Encourage staff to establish collaboration with staff of institutions, government agencies, professional bodies and organisations in the area of research and development.
• Provide consultancy and training services to government, non-government, profit and not-for-profit organisations.
• Assist staff in negotiation of terms of research with third parties as well as sourcing for funds for such activities.
• Administer and monitor progress of research and development activities at the Faculty/Department and forward reports to the RDMC as directed/requested by RDMC or according to the pre-determined schedule of each project.
• Monitor the claims of researchers and recommend to the RDMC for disbursements.

v. Operation and Activities

The main focus of the centre is to produce high quality research output. Hence, members of centre will actively participate in group research depending on their areas of specialisation. To improve lecturers’ research skill and to elevate staff strength, the centre will organise research seminars and workshops from time to time.

Besides, the centre will provide consultancy services to industries, government agencies and community.

vi. Funding, Facilities and Equipment

The Centre will use the existing facilities and available funds including licensed software provided by main campus.