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Figure 7. Share of total project funding by research impact
Source: Author
This funding pattern aligns with competitive grant models emphasizing
demonstrated excellence while avoiding complete concentration that could stifle
innovation or disadvantage emerging fields (Horta & Li, 2023). The relatively moderate
disparity between high and low impact funding (42% vs 37.3%) suggests tempered
meritocracy that balances performance-based allocation with broader institutional goals
including diversity, equity, and long-term capacity building. This nuanced approach
reflects sophisticated research management recognizing that breakthrough discoveries
sometimes emerge from unexpected sources requiring patient investment (Klebel et al.,
2025).
4.8. Student outcomes across departments

Figure 8. Student outcomes breakdown by department

Source: Author
The stacked bar chart reveals outcome distributions (Pass, Fail, Distinction) across
departments, enabling comparative assessment of student success patterns. ECE and
Education show the highest total student counts (approximately 72 and 71 respectively),
followed by AI Lab (approximately 69), CS (approximately 62), and IT (approximately 56).
These volume differences likely reflect program sizes and enrollment patterns. Distinction
achievements (blue segments) appear relatively modest across all departments,
suggesting high standards for exceptional performance. No department shows a

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