Abstract

When discussing the role of research managers and administrators, we tend to focus our attention on services provided to ambitious researchers, at all phases of the project cycle. In this session, we aim to shift the focus towards the crucial role of research managers in providing strategic advice and various management data.

Strategic advice can be directed to decision makers at all institutional levels and may include policy updates, long-term perspectives from funding agencies and institutional compliance with regulations. Management data is an open concept, but in this context, we refer to information which has been collected, processed, analysed and presented in a suitable format, with the aim of creating the basis for the understanding of past achievements, current status or future opportunities within the research performing institution. This can take place in a research institute, a university department, a Faculty, or at the University level. The role could even surpass institutional boundaries and the recipients could be leaders of institutional alliances or regional networks.

Within all large organisations, there will be competing priorities and ambitions, and Universities and research institutes are most certainly not an exception to this rule. Research strategies are long-term commitments, sometimes with an uncertain outcome and high risk for failure. The risk is high, both regarding the chances for success of winning the competition for external funding, and the outcome of the research itself. How do we, as research administrators, provide the necessary support for our leaders to prioritize resources towards research in uncertain times, with shrinking budgets and increased political demands for “return on investment”?

Four speakers, representing a diverse range of expertise within their respective organisations, will share their experiences on the provision of management data and strategic advice in support of institutional decision makers. The four contributors are Elisabeth Denk (BOKU, Austria), Servaas Duterloo (TU Delft, The Netherlands), Paolo Simonelli (INRIA, France) and Laila Østergreen (CBS, Denmark). Through specific, and real-life examples, the speakers will aim to approach the topic from various perspectives. Among these, will be the development of research strategies, portfolio management, research funding, and external partnerships.

Following the brief presentations, the speakers will take part in a moderated panel discussion on some generic questions, such as what this role in creating the basis for strategic decision making entails for the acknowledgement of the research administrative profession; and what kind of competence development leaders of research administrative units should initiate, in order to develop the necessary skills for research administrators to take on this role in relation to institutional leaders.

In the context of the panel discussion, the moderators will involve the audience in the discussion, and bring questions and comments from the audience to the panel either through the conference feedback system or an alternative digital solution.