Eidos

Download a printable PDF of the Eidos Points of Difference here (150kb).

The Eidos Points of Difference

Eidos is collaborative

Eidos uses open source technologies

Eidos builds the capacity and influence of its partners

Eidos Case Study One
The Department of Education and Arts (DEA) needed to identify key success factors in Queenslands preparatory year and, to examine the effects of the preparatory year on progress of children in five development domains. Within 24 months of contracting the Institute, the research had provided strong and consistent evidence of the benefits of the preparatory year in preparation for implementation in 2007.

I was very pleased when they were able to advise government after extensive evaluation that we were on the right track and that children are being prepared for school after participating in the prep year. It is an internationally recognised evaluation and what it did was add legitimacy to the idea of the prep and, along with a range of feedback that had been gathered internally within the department from the trials schools themselves, it gave us, the government, the confidence to make the investment, the very substantial investment of public funds into the program and make it universal and that will happen from 2007. I want to acknowledge the Institutes role in that and it was a very important reminder to me of the value of rigorous interdisciplinary research and the need for more of it. The Honourable Anna Bligh MP, Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Trade and Innovation (Formerly The Minister for Education and The Minister for The Arts) Launches Eidos in May 2005

Eidos Case Study Two Victorian universities have always had a strong commitment to the development of education, training and research programs and partnerships which deliver positive economic, social and environmental benefits to their local communities. However, most of the information was anecdotal and wrapped up in media and communications releases. The Victorian government sought an initial scan of current practices to provide valuable models and lessons for public and private audiences. The recent history of university-community engagement initiatives in Victoria highlights the importance of community engagement partnerships (i) in defining university identity; ii) as a foundation stone for high quality teaching and research; iii) in delivering social and economic benefits to local and regional communities and iv) in providing the essential social and physical infrastructure for thriving, sustainable cities and regions.

What's in it for Eidos?

Eidos was set up to do something very simple. Build the capacity of good education and social research and policy. Position this research and policy on the national and international stage.

Most institutes are seen to be successful if they have a large income and large staff. Eidos is successful if it maintains a small staff and small income. Why? Eidos is successful if its partners benefit. Eidos partners use Eidos resources in ways that advantage their collective position. Eidos is the space for collaboration.

Why this model?

Systems theory tells us that we are now a 'network society'. Institution and infrastructure don't always add the best value when you are talking about the knowledge economy. A small investment by a number of partners has created Eidos - a collaborative network. In many ways, Eidos mediates a space to make a bigger research, policy and practice impact.

Eidos Capacity

Eidos is a consortium of six universities and three state government agencies committed to improving education and social research, policy and practice. It's work is conducted through a network of participating research centres and partners, through which Eidos draws the intellectual strength of the research community into an active dialogue with policy makers and practitioners. Within its universities and government agencies, there are more than 55 research and policy centres, and over 300 active senior and early career researchers. Eidos harnesses these resources to maximize their contribution to state, national and global education and social research, policy and practice.

The Eidos Head Office and the member Research Centres are partners in a common research enterprise. The Head Office plays a role in bringing together collaborative research teams and takes a close interest in each research activity from the outset, comments on reports, and takes an active role in the dissemination of research findings. The Eidos CEO directs the overall Research Programme and the Research Fellows and Research Congress manage, monitor and act as points of contact on the progress of individual research activities.

Within the broad them of human capital - people, Eidos hosts five key Research Groups (Life, Green, Wired, Safe and Community) aligned to national priorities. These groups have completed more than $50M in research and project consultancy work over the past five years.

In order to provide Eidos client's and partners with high quality and time efficient expertise, the Eidos Business System has been implemented to cover all commercial activities undertaken at the Institute. This Business System comprises of a Management Database and Quality Manual and is designed to provide the Institute with a business and financial system, which is audited regularly to ensure it is functioning efficiently to serve Eidos's customers.

Eidos has developed the following set of Quality Objectives to ensure that the key elements of both the Quality Policy and the Institute's Objectives are realised.

Collaborate with clients, partners and customers to clearly identify and understand their requirements and ensure by agreement that they are met.

Encourage all consortium members participating in the successful consulting teams to adopt a 'right first time' approach, and provide skills development to support staff effectiveness in quality processes.

Promote a collective commitment to the pursuit of excellence within Eidos membership.

Establish systems to ensure that Quality Objectives are consistently met.

Adopt a team approach to the continuous improvement of processes, procedures and the Quality System we have developed.

Eidos recognises that our capability to deliver on our vision and objectives relies on our employees, our consortium members, and the systems that support our collective work. The Institute Business Plan has an explicit focus on developing a culture of excellence, which includes team work, collaboration, cooperation, and learning. We consistently work towards developing an environment that focuses on quality and one that is underpinned by systems that enable individuals to work autonomously and creatively within a structured framework.

In particular, it is within this framework that employees can maintain personal integrity, high business ethics and a commitment to excellence.

Eidos has an unquestionable commitment to quality in all our interactions with partners, customers, clients and the community. It's most recent large-scale collaborative project received five stars on all client feedback measures from the Victorian Department of Education.

Since 2003, Eidos has successfully completed large scale research, evaluation and development projects. See completed projects for more details.

I am a researcher, how can Eidos help me?

Connect you to partners

Seed fund your idea and proposals

Disseminate your proposal and idea through Eidos in seeking other partners. You remain lead and you negotiate the intellectual property and research quantum arrangements with your potential partners.

Assist your partnership with government with an agreed upon and mutual benefit intellectual property agreement.

I am a policy maker, how can Eidos help me?

Connect you with researchers and other policy makers

Tender your research requests to Eidos members and associates

Disseminate your proposal and ideas through Eidos in seeking other partners to further develop. You remain lead and you negotiate the intellectual property and research quantum arrangements with your potential partners.

Assist you to structure education and social research relationships

I am a practitioner, how can Eidos help me?

Connect you with researchers and other policy makers

Disseminate your proposal and idea through Eidos in seeking other partners. You remain lead and you negotiate the intellectual property and research quantum arrangements with your potential partners.

I am from industry, how can Eidos help me?

Connect you with researchers and other policy makers

Tender your research requests to Eidos members and associates

Assist you to structure education and social research relationships