Study points to importance of research management capacity

While initiatives to help grow research support capacity in African universities are slowly coming into being, research services functions remain far from ubiquitous and more needs to be done, according to experts.

Analysis of the research management and administration (RMA) capacities as published by Webometrics in 2019 shows that most of the top 200 African universities do not meet the standards for strategic research management, review of international research grant and collaboration opportunities, research and grant management, research ethics, research incentives, and professional staff development.

The RMA analysis was outlined in a study co-authored by Simon Kerridge and Abiodun Tunde Akindele titled “Benefits of research management and administration for African universities – The way forward", to be presented at this week’s Conference of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors and Presidents of African Universities (COREVIP) in Cairo, Egypt.

Akindele, who is Principal Assistant Registrar at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, told University World News the professionalisation of RMA was “a key driver for improving research capacity”.

The study describes RMA as “support for research and researchers” which covers pre-award and post-award administration as well as wider issues such as reporting and ethics.

Kerridge, who is director of Research Services at the University of Kent, told University World News: “From my perspective, many African universities suffer from a lack of human infrastructure to support research activity."

"In many parts of the world research universities benefit from a cadre of professional staff to support and advise academic and research staff in winning and managing grants … Having a dedicated research support service builds expertise and frees up valuable time for academic staff to undertake research rather than be burdened by administration."

A global profession

In a July 2018 report entitled "Research administration around the world”, Kerridge and his co-author Stephanie F Scott argue that "research administration is becoming a global profession and argue that in some regions it is more advanced than in others…”.

"Thankfully in recent years, there have been various initiatives to help grow research support capacity and there are now associations of research managers and administrators in Africa, but research services functions remain far from ubiquitous in African universities. More still needs to be done," Kerridge said.

These African associations include Eastern Africa Research and Innovation Management Association (EARIMA), Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA), Central African Research and Innovation Management Association (CARIMA), and West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA).

Kerridge said a number of UK universities, including Kent, are also working with research funders and the African Academy of Sciences to develop a research management programme in Africa.

Research clusters

To take the initiatives further, Lily Yarney, a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Business School, told University World News that research clusters should be established in African universities at school and departmental levels.

"This I believe would boost funding opportunities for focused areas of research, and enhance efficiency in our research procedures and protocols which would ultimately increase the utilisation of our research findings for the betterment of society," Yarney said.

Dickson Adom, a researcher at the department of educational innovations in science and technology at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, told University World News there was a need to “intensify courses, workshops and seminars on research and publication ethics, grant proposal writing as well as academic writing for students in higher institutions in Africa".

"This would improve the rigour of our research, research proposals and the quality of our publications," Adom said.

Regional body

Science, technology and innovation expert Magdi Tawfik Abdelhamid based at the National Research Centre, Egypt, told University World News African universities need to establish a central facility to enhance their capabilities in RMA, as well as prepare institutional research management policies and strategies to contribute to the professionalisation of research management, and to increase awareness of research management and innovation issues in their higher education environments.

"This must be followed by the establishment of a regional body consisting of universities-based central facilities along with national and regional associations dealing with research management and administration," he said.

"The regional body should focus on transferring best practice and knowledge of innovative initiatives and projects of research management and administration from international associations and universities in the Global North to African universities, after adapting them to African conditions,” Abdelhamid said.