Project Background
In the developing world, in particular, there is a need for universities to build a strong research base, enabling its researchers to find evidence-based solutions for unique local challenges. In Africa, governments are placing increased focus on setting national research priorities and strengthening their research-intensive HEIs. It is also vital for science that international collaboration between researchers across the globe is strengthened. Improved research management and administration (RMA) capacity will play a key role in the strengthening of Africa's research agenda, and also in promoting international collaboration. However, in many African HEIs the capacity for effective research management and administration is not yet well established. No professional RMA qualification currently exists on the African continent.
One of the greatest challenges faced by higher education institutions (HEIs) is the effective and strategic management of their research portfolios to ensure sustainability in an increasingly complex and competitive global environment. Sourcing sustained external funding is challenging and uncertain. Funding programmes have a greater focus on excellence and there is an active setting of priorities by funders. Hence HEIs need to partner with other institutions and companies, and demonstrate research impact, efficiency, and innovation throughout. Skilled research managers and administrators (RMAs) are key players in the efforts of HEIs to sustain and grow research and a professional RMA function is a critical enabler for HEIs to achieve maximum research deliverables and impact (Langley, D. (2012): Research management and administration. Perspectives: Policy & Practice in Higher Education. 16(3), 71-76).
The overall aim of this project is to promote research outcomes, innovation and impacts through capacity building and professionalisation of a globally connected and skilled group of research managers. The project will also establish improved support for collaborative research projects between the SADC and EU regions. Expertise from the UK and the wider European area will be utilised. The project will contribute directly to achieving objectives of the Erasmus+ Key Action 2 programme (Capacity building in the field of Higher Education) for 2016, viz.:
Support the modernisation, accessibility and internationalisation of higher education in the eligible partner countries: it will establish linkages between research managers in the EU and SADC regions, and provide opportunities for international networking and mentoring. It will build RMA capacity and modernise current HEI management processes in the SADC region.
Support eligible partner countries to address the challenges facing their higher education institutions and systems: SADC HEIs need to compete globally in the research arena, in particular for research funding, and in many cases do not have comparable management structures in place. This project will address an urgent need for improved RMA support for SADC researchers, which could eventually be adopted by the rest of the continent.
Contribute towards improved cooperation between EU and partner country higher education institutions; the project will enhance the cooperation between EU and SADC higher education institutions in the management of research through networking and sharing of good practice. This will result in improved quality of higher education, and improved SADC-EU collaboration;
Promote people-to-people contacts and intercultural awareness and understanding: In bringing together RMA professionals from the EU and SADC regions, the project will promote mutual awareness and understanding of the different RMA landscapes in the EU and the partner countries.
We believe that the development of a professionalisation route for research managers and administrators through this project will have a catalytic effect on HEI research outputs and outcomes. It will promote the ability of HEIs to lead, participate in and obtain funding for high quality and original scholarship, knowledge generation and impact. Three mechanisms for professional development and cooperation will be established through the project i.e. certification and accreditation of research managers, guidelines/standards for the development and approval of postgraduate qualifications in research management, and the forging of a strong network of research managers between the EU and SADC regions. The professionalisation route will be pitched at three different levels of RMA professionals, namely a certificate course for junior staff, a future post-graduate degree for mid-level staff and an accreditation mechanism for experienced RMAs.