Research Managers and Administrators play an increasingly important role in facilitating institutions’ and individuals’ research endeavours. They have specialist technical knowledge and skills, and are able to provide help, guidance and advice across the research project lifecycle. Research management and administration is now being recognised as an HE profession in its own right and, as such the research managers and administrators, through their professional association, ARMA, have expressed a need for more structured guidance for their professional and career development.
On 28 November 2011 ARMA launched the Professional Development Framework (PDF), to scope out the knowledge, skills, behaviours and activities required across the full range of research management and administration roles.
The PDF is available to members via the ARMA website at:
http://www.arma.ac.uk/pdf
The PDF comprises 21 different functions undertaken by administrators supporting the research agenda. These include developing proposals, managing project finance, knowledge exchange and business development, and supporting postgraduate researchers.
The functions are grouped under seven broader headings: Developing Proposals, Project Lifetime, Translation, Postgraduate Researchers, Policy and Governance, Management Information and Related Functions, and Service Organisation and Delivery. Each function is described from three different perspectives – Operational, Management and Leadership.
The PDF is intended to:
·inform ARMA and partner organisations provision of initial and continuing professional development for research managers and administrators
·help individuals to reflect on their development needs and plan their career
·inform institutions’ internal training and development for research managers and administrators
·help managers in the task of preparing job descriptions and person specifications
ARMA wish to acknowledge the input of PraxisUnico, AURIL, AUA, the Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement, and the Centre for Research Communication into the Framework. In particular ARMA would like to thank the AUA who have kindly allowed the professional behaviours from the AUA's CPD Framework, 2009 to be adapted and applied within the PDF.
(Source: www.arma.ac.uk)
