Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
14 mins ago
EIT is farewelling its Research Director Associate Professor Jonathan Sibley.
EIT has farewelled its long-standing Research Director, Associate Professor Jonathan Sibley, who has been at the forefront of driving research at the institute.
Jonathan, who joined EIT’s School of Business in 2016 and has headed EIT’s Research and Innovation Centre (RIC) since 2018, is retiring from the role to pursue other interests.
Together with former Executive Dean Natalie Waran, he led the push towards increasing grants for researchers at EIT and encouraging them to participate in the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) process.
Jonathan says that a strong research culture was built at EIT under the direction of former Chief Executive Chris Collins.
“Chris, along with the then Executive Deans Susan Jacobs, Natalie and Professors Bob Marshall and Kay Morris Matthews, ensured that we were very research active in the ITP sector.”
“We built an enviable position for regional polytechnics in research and were able to establish a research centre with Te Kura i Awarua, to engage in research as a principle. Great thanks are owed to Professors David Tipene Leach and Annemarie Gillies for their leadership in the development of the Centre and our rangahau Māori capability.”
Jonathan says despite challenging times during COVID-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle, research has continued.
“We built a really strong, nationally recognised research culture with a number of researchers who had an international reputation.”
“As we move back to independence, we have an excellent platform for further developing our research culture.”
“EIT can also be proud that it hosts the largest number of international postgraduate students among New Zealand polytechnics,” says Jonathan, who also teaches and supervises students in the postgraduate business programmes.
EIT’s Executive Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Technology John West paid tribute to Jonathan for his professionalism and research leadership.
“Jonathan has led the evolution of the School of Business’ postgraduate studies. He has also played an important role in fostering research and mentoring our researchers.”
“We thank him for everything that he has contributed and wish him well in the future.”
Jonathan will continue teaching in the School of Business’ postgraduate programme on a part-time basis.
