Abstract

The Research Support Offices (RSO) at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) and at University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) are presenting two tools they use to enhance team skills from a professional development perspective. CBS has adapted Sean McCarthy’s 5-level model, while Wits has implemented the SARIMA framework to professionalize research management and administration (RMA).
CBS’s Approach: The Research Support Office at CBS, focusing on pre-award activities, developed a 5-tier model. This model serves as a comprehensive list of services provided by Research Management, ranging from budgeting to high-level lobbying. CBS RSO adapted Sean McCarthy's model to optimize application processes, matchmaking, evaluating proposal ideas, and strategic planning. This adaptation allowed CBS RSO to reflect on and evaluate their support levels, aiming to create a roadmap for improvement and learning at the level of the Research Support Office, ultimately striving to offer top-tier services.
Wits’ Approach: Wits will outline the changes to their Human Resources System to re-code RMA staff as a specialist skills sub-set, and how using the SARIMA Professional Competency Framework (PCF) as a strategic tool has contributed to the: (i) professional identity and development of the RMA profession through an internal community of practice involving quarterly in-person forums, (ii) the strategic planning of specialist skills training offerings to RMA staff beyond that offered to administrative staff, and (iii) succession planning especially in light of many RMAs being employed on fixed-term “soft funding” contracts through external grants.

Session Outline: In the session, CBS RSO and Wits will:
• Outline the implementation of the tools.
• Use an online quiz tool to actively engage participants to reflect on their individual level of professionalism according to the two frameworks.
• Help participants formulate next steps for their institution’s development and RMA professionalism by sharing the development tools.

Presentation Highlights: The presentation will demonstrate the direct benefits and synergy effects of working with professional development, impacting the institution’s success rate.

Takeaway Messages:
• Using frameworks to identify a unit’s strengths and weaknesses can guide the next steps for the professional development of a Research Support Office.
• Analysing current RMA activities through a framework can also help RMA staff develop their own careers.