Preamble

On May 24th 2023, a group of research managers and administrators from all over the world had the opportunity to meet colleagues in Gaborone, Botswana in the Colloquium “Global Challenges, Research, Innovation and Impact” organized by Botswana Open University, with a keynote presentation by Mr J. Andersen, Senior Executive Advisor, University of Southern Denmark  and presentations by Prof. Sunny Aiyuk, Dean School of Science & Technology, Professor Mogodisheng Sekhwela, Director of Research Innovation and Partnerships, Prof. K.H. Moahi, Ag. Vice Chancellor, Mr J. Andersen, Senior Executive Advisor, University of Southern Denmark, DVC Research, University of Botswana, Prof. Shelden Masupe, CEO BITRI and Dr G. Gatsha, DVC Student Services, with contribution from colleagues participating in the INORMS 2023 Pre-congress Study Tour from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, and UK, USA. The colloquium had 100 participants on-site and online. The purpose of the colloquium was to discuss and share experiences on global challenges and research. The Botswana Statement is based on the discussions and outcome of the colloquium. 

The Botswana Statement

Summary

Research plays a major role in driving the discovery of solutions to the challenges faced across the globe. The global investments in research and development has skyrocketed over the last twenty years, promoting economic growth, and driving competition for international research funding and staff. The emerging focus on research has encouraged institutions to be more accountable regarding how funding is used and increased societal expectations for impact that benefits society. The establishment of an effective framework to promote and sustain high-quality research has become a critical priority in both national and international policy agendas. The recognition of and a career framework for professional research managers and administrators, the enablers of research potentials, must follow investments in research.

Role of research in providing solutions to global challenges 

The UN Sustainable Development Goals have become a beacon for governments and organisations in setting priorities, including within the realm of research. Research plays an important role in contributing towards many of the SDGs [1]. To ensure a mutual commitment between the governments that fund and sustain research, and the research sector that strives to deliver societal impacts, research support offices play a pivotal role. Research support offices ensure that funding is used in accordance with public and funders expectations, supporting compliance with ethical frameworks, ensure due diligence, and finally, that the outcomes of research are realised for the benefit of society as a whole through education, innovation, and knowledge sharing. Global investment in research has increased in recent years; spending on research among the OECD countries has risen from 2,1% of GDP in 2000 to 2,7% of GDP in 2021 [2] with a growth in GDP per capita around 2% in the same period [3]. It is therefore key to sustain this growth that higher education institutions create and retain an effective environment to recruit, train and secure highly qualified students and academic staff. 

Importance of research managers and administrators as a profession 

The internationalisation of research has resulted in an unprecedented increase in joint research projects, cross-national research collaborations, and shared research outputs, hereunder co-authorship of scientific journal articles [4]. The increasingly global nature of the research environment has called for professionals who support researchers in acquiring funding, managing sustainable projects, securing ethical standards, and ensuring financial accountability. These are all necessary components and vital for allowing researchers to focus on their complex endeavors. The ability to handle the complexity of the 21st century research environment is essential for success in the global competition amongst nations to increase their visibility, secure funding and promote collaboration. Recognising the valuable contributions of professional research managers and administrators is essential for a nation to secure career opportunities for research support staff and advance its research endeavors based on a long-term vision. 

[1] https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/sdg-literacy-and-relating-your-research-global-challenges 

[2] https://data.oecd.org/rd/gross-domestic-spending-on-r-d.htm 

[3] Except for 2009 and 2020, where the global GDP was negative: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.KD.ZG?end=2022&start=2000 

[4] https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/sti_scoreboard-2009-47- en.pdf?expires=1688474414&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=3AFC439AB7AD951CCDFC4262533DF747 

Signed by: 

Mr. Jan Andersen, Senior Executive Advisor, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark (0000-0002-3750-0960)
Dr. Mogodisheng Sekhwela, Director of Research Innovation and Partnerships, Botswana Open University, Botswana
Mrs. Lesego Thamae, Director, Department of Research Science and Technology, Ministry of Communication Knowledge and Technology, Botswana
Prof. K.H. Moahi, Ag. Vice Chancellor, Botswana Open University, Botswana
Dr. Changu Batisani, Office of Research and Development Research, Botswana Open University, Botswana
Prof. Sunny Aiyuk, Dean School of Science & Technology, Botswana Open University, Botswana
Prof. R. Tabulawa, Director of the Office of Research and Development Research, University of Botswana, Botswana
Dr. B. Mbongwe, Director Research and Innovation, The Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI), Botswana
Dr. G. Gatsha, DVC Student Services, Botswana Open University, Botswana
Mr. Stefan Apitz, Research Funding Manager, Hochschule Harz, Germany
Dr. Gabriella Arrigoni, Impact and Engagement Officer, Northumbria University, United Kingdom
Mrs. Vanda Baloh, Deputy Director, ZRC SAZU, Slovenia
Mr. Sidney Engelbrecht, Senior Research Compliance Specialist, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia (0000-0002-2850-3836)
Mr. Simon Glasser, International Research Development Manager, University of Bristol, United Kingdom (0000- 0002-1166-2865)
Dr. Simon Gray, Director of Research Development, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
Dr. Nicola Kernaghan, International Research Development Manager, Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom
Mr. William McKervey, Research Ethics and Integrity Manager, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
Dr. Wendy Mcloone, Director Research Services, Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom
Mr. Jagdees Pabla, Senior Partner, Research Delivery, Coventry University, United Kingdom
Ms. Patrizia Rampioni, Research Advisor, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Netherlands
Ms. Olga Roig-Herrera, Head of The International Projects Office, CREAF, Spain
Dr. Mimi Urbanc, Deputy Director, ZRC SAZU, Slovenia
Mrs. Rūta Žmuidzinaitė, Senior Adviser for Social Innovation, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway
Dr. Mariko Yang-Yoshihara Instructor & Education Researcher Stanford University United States
Mrs. Johanna Roodt, Head of Events & Member Engagement, European Association of Research Managers amd Administrators, Belgium
Dr. Prenitha Sewnarain, Project Manager, Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association, South Africa
Dr. Therina Theron, Senior Director, Research & Innovation, Stellenbosch University, South Africa (0000-0002- 2204-3947)
Dr. Simon Kerridge, Honorary Staff, Research and Innovation Services, University of Kent and Kerridge Research Consulting, United Kingdom (0000-0003-4094-3719) 

The above signatories were those involved in draftig the original statement

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