Revision December 2013

RMIT Vietnam Human Resources

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS RECRUITMENT APPROVAL AND APPOINTMENT

GUIDELINES

These guidelines outline the process for the approval to recruit Short Term employees (less than 12
months) in the role of Research Assistant at RMIT Vietnam. For clarification or interpretation of
these guidelines, please contact the Senior Manager Recruitment and Workforce Planning or the
Director, Human Resources.

The Role
The role of Research Assistant at RMIT Vietnam is to assist in research projects undertaken by RMIT
Vietnam academic staff members, in accordance with approved research grant conditions and
funding.
The following types of Research Assistant roles have been approved:

Research Assistant level 1. Primarily administrative support

Research Assistant level 2.
Research Assistant level 3.
Research Assistant level 4
Administrative support with basic specialist expertise relative
to the discipline
Specialist support, with technical or specialist expertise
paramount
RA role where academic judgement is required

Engagement Principles

Persons engaged as Research Assistants are short term employees of RMIT Vietnam. Where
there is an expectation that a single RA will be contracted more than once, a gap of at least 2
weeks must be in place before further contracts are engaged.

Current full-time Vietnamese staff members at RMIT Vietnam will not be engaged as a
Research Assistant. Where it is proposed that a current part-time Vietnamese staff member
undertake such duties, it will need to be formalised as a Variation to Employment under
their existing contract, with an adjusted workplan/working hours agreed with the
accountable manager and approved by the responsible Head of Centre/Campus. The use of
over-time or other such ad-hoc working hour variations for existing staff are not
appropriate.

A foreign person (i.e. a non-Vietnamese national) is unable to be engaged in a Research

Assistant position. RMIT Vietnam will not seek approval of a Work Permit for a Research
Assistant.

A Research Assistant is engaged on specific terms and conditions which are detailed in the
employment contract and is not eligible or entitled to receive private medical insurance,
bonus payments, salary sacrifice options or any professional development funding due to
the temporary nature of the position. However, annual leave and sick leave entitlements

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RMIT Vietnam Human Resources

accrue on a pro-rated basis for the period of employment. An Employer National Insurance
Contribution will also be paid on their behalf to the Department of Social Security based on
earned monthly income. (NB. For Research Assistants whose employment period is less than
three (3) months, 4 % of annual leave, sick leave & public holiday and Employer National
Insurance Contribution will be paid directly to them each month in accordance with labour
law requirements).

A request to recruit a Research Assistant is approved by the Vietnam Research Coordinator

following the verification of the research funding grant details as listed on the Recruitment
Request form. The HRF1-Approval to Recruit must be completed and following approval
forwarded to the Human Resources Department for processing by the Recruitment Team
(Key Contact: Ms Dung, Le Thi Ngoc ext.2060)

The appointment of a Research Assistant will follow the normal recruitment and selection
process, such as advertising, panel interviews and selection to ensure due process and
fairness. All activity will be supported by the RMIT Recruitment Team (see Procedure for
appointing a Research Assistant document).

Panel Interview members for a Research Assistant should at a minimum be filled by two full
time Academics. It is expected that at least one panel member would be performing at an
Assistant Professor level or above.

After completion of the recruitment process an Employment Contract will be prepared by

Human Resources and this requires specific approval from the Director Human Resources
prior to issuance.

Approval to engage an RA must be obtained in advance in all cases, prior to any individual
being engaged in research activities. Non-compliance with this requirement may lead to
non-payment of RA.

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