What we do: Robson Collection scholar in Residence

One of the key projects of the Trust was the instigation of the Robson Collection housed in the Napier

City Library. The Robson Collection is unique in containing over $1,000 publications on topics of

restorative and transformative justice - likely the largest collection of its kind in New Zealand outside of

any university library.

Some of the aims of the Robson Collection are to act as:

- an insurance policy for future generations

- a resource for social leaning, education and research

- a record of local, national and international programmes and initiatives and

- a record of bi-cultural initiative

The Trust is very keen to increase public awareness of the collection as well as use of the resource,

and its appreciation to the benefit of the people and communities most in need within Napier.

One aspect of that concern is to put the "theory" within the many texts and publications comprising the

collection into practice, such that the relative benefits of a restorative or transformative justice model

can be evaluated, demonstrated and documented based on "real world" experiences within Napier.

As one means to that end, the Trust has secured funding to enable an appropriately qualified student

to undertake research within the Napier community, applying the resource within the collection, and to

prepare a written paper recording the outcomes of that research within which would in turn supplement

the collection itself.

Proposal

In partnership with the Napier City Library that houses the collection, the Trust proposes to award the

sum of $5,000 as a scholarship to a student who would reside in Napier over the 2011/12 summer

academic vacation for the research purpose outlined above. Preferred candidates will undertake their

research with academic supervision from a host University. This would include supervision on

research methodologies, practices and ethics approval.

The research topic would be at the student's election but related to the content and purpose of the

Robson Collection, along with the Trust's goal of promoting its application and use to the benefit of

people and communities within Napier, and as outline above.

It is broadly envisaged that over a 10 week period (within the forthcoming academic summer vacation)

the student would spend roughly one third of their time researching the chosen topic using the Robson

Collection (and undertaking any other research needed through accessing literature from other

including university and tertiary institution libraries), one third of their time undertaking primary research

within the Napier community, and one third writing up the results of that research.

Please note this is only a guide and a greater time allocation on the primary research element, and

writing the research paper after the 10 week period is completed, are also acceptable options for any

proposed research methodology.

The Trust would assist in identifying areas and people within the community of relevance to the

proposed research topic and as such might benefit from it. The Trust would also assist in arranging

accommodation at the lowest possible cost for the student.

Requirements

It is expected that the research will receive ethics approval from the supporting institution, before

primary research commences.

The required output of the research would be a paper of between 12,000 to 15,000 words.

The student would be free to apply that paper to any subsequent academic studies including as a

base for or component of a research paper, dissertation or thesis as might assist the conclusion of a

post-graduate diploma or degree.

The applicant should essentially have completed an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant

field such as criminology, sociology, community psychology or law.

Applications for the 2011 year have now closed. Watch this page for

details on the 2012 application round (this information should be available

by mid 2012).

The application should be no longer than 3 typed pages, but must include:

- the proposed topic

- a statement of the student's proposed research methodology,

details of any papers currently being undertaken by the student

- a statement of the applicants personal goals and objectives for

undertaking the research, and how it would fit with the students intended future studies.

The application must also be accompanied by:

- a reference from a member of the academic staff at the tertiary institution, in support

of (1) the applicants ability to undertake research of the kind outlined above to a

suitable standard; (ii) the provision of academic supervision to the project.

- a transcript of academic grades for all papers concluded (and which have been

received) prior to the application date.

It would also be a requirement that the student agree to present the paper, once completed, at the

Trust's annual Robson Collection lecture series which is generally held in November of each year (in

this case then, in November 2012) or at a time otherwise agreed with the student.

Granting of Application

The application would be granted by the Trust with notice to the student received by 5.00pm on 4

November 2011. The student would then be invited to contact the Trust to make arrangements for

accommodation within Napier, and to progress the primary research element.

Payment of the scholarship fund would be as follows:

- $1,000 upon arrival in Napier

- Weekly payments of $300 over a period of 10 weeks

- Final $1,000 upon receipt of the paper (to a reasonable standard and to the Trust's satisfaction)

 

2011 Robson Scholar

The Trust is pleased to announce that Ms Hannah Bentley (a Masters Student from the Institute of

Criminology, Victoria University of Wellington) is the recipient of the 2011 Robson Collection

scholarship. Her research is on The Transistion from Incarceration to the Community: Issues and

Challenges for Women. Hannah will be addressing the 2nd annual Robson Collection hui on her

research. Following her address we hope to place a synopsis of her talk on the resources section of

this website.

Address for applications:

Please address your applications to:

Mr Will Jenkins

Napier Pilot City Trust

PO Box 2

Napier 4140

or email to: napierpilotcity@callplus.net.nz

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