Commercial Activity Policy Refresh - Voice of the Client

UOW is reviewing the current policy suite that govern Commercial Activity, Commercial Research, and Research Sponsorship and Collaboration to determine whether the existing framework remains fit for purpose and whether it can be simplified, clarified and modernised. In doing so, UOW is also seeking to respond constructively to the recent Standing Committee on Social Issues’ findings and recommendations regarding commercial activities, transparency and governance in the NSW university sector.

The review is intended to create a clearer policy architecture that:

preserves appropriate governance, risk and compliance controls.
removes duplicated policy content.
makes it easier for staff to identify the right process and approval pathway.
creates clearer boundaries between commercial activities, commercial research, sponsored research, collaborative research, community investment and other excluded or related activities.
supports more consistent application of due diligence, conflict of interest and foreign engagement obligations; and
aligns UOW’s policy suite more closely with contemporary sector practice.

The aim is not to reduce oversight or weaken controls. Rather, the aim is to create a framework that is easier to interpret, easier to maintain, and more effective in application and practice.

The following questions have been developed to gain a better understanding of where 'pain-points' currently impact the application and use of the current policies.

Thinking about your experience, what aspects of the current Commercial Activity Policy suite, Commercial Research, Commercial Activity, or Research Sponsorship & Collaboration are most confusing or difficult to navigate, and why? For example, unclear or conflicting definitions, overlapping documents, identifying the right policy, governance?

Maximum 5,000 characters

0/5,000

Where do you lose the most time when engaging with external opportunities (e.g. tenders, sponsorships, collaborations)? Please select all that apply.

Finding the right pathway or policy

Internal approvals and delegations

Contract drafting, review or negotiation

Risk and due dilligence steps

Handover between units (eg. Faculty, Research, Legal, Finance)

Finance, pricing or budget approvals

Other (please specify)

What specific changes would make those steps faster or simpler?

Maximum 5,000 characters

0/5,000

What changes to approvals, delegations, or risk assessment would help you move legitimate opportunities through the system more quickly, while maintaining appropriate oversight? Select all that apply.

Clearer approval thresholds (who can approve what)

Fewer approval levels for low-risk activities

Standard risk checklists or templates

Decision trees for when escalation is required

Clearer roles (who decides, who advises, who is informed)

Faster access to specialist advice (eg. Legal, Finance, Risk)

Other (please specify)

Please describe any specific changes or examples that would make the biggest difference.

Maximum 5,000 characters

0/5,000

If the policy refresh were successful, what would be different for you and your stakeholders when pursuing commercial activity with UOW? Select all that apply.

Simpler, more streamlined process

Faster approval turnaround

Easier to understand policies and procedures

Clearer governance, roles and responsibilities

Better tools for decision-making, risk assessment and partner analysis

More consistent experience across units (eg. Faculty, Research Services, Legal, Finance)

Other (please specify)

Please briefly describe what “success” would look like in practice for you (e.g. an ideal end‑to‑end experience with an external partner).

Maximum 5,000 characters

0/5,000