Literature Review | The Emerald Handbook of Research Management and Administration Around the World
If you are interested in learning more about the world of research management and administration, how it got started and is organized, or how you might actively engage in the profession’s development, then “The Emerald Handbook of Research Management and Administration Around the World” is the book for you.
Published by Emerald and hot off the press in November 2023, the Handbook, edited by Kerridge, Poli and Yang-Yoshihara, is the first comprehensive compendium (over 800 pages!) which describes research management and administration (RMA) around the world. The book is divided into two parts. Part 1 covers various topics, provides regional summaries and, in the authors’ words, “offers frameworks to inform and guide future research on RMAs”, while Part 2 describes the current state of RMA in over 50 countries. It is clear that in most countries a small number of individuals has driven the formation of professional associations and of the profession in general.
As one reads the Part 1 chapters about history, context, identity and professionalism, they quickly learn many important facts about RMA, which the authors characterize as an emerging profession. For example,
- There is no common definition for professionals who work in research support. The term “research management and administration” is used in most of the world, while in North America “research administration” is used. South American and African countries generally use the term ”research and innovation manager.”
- Various drivers have spurred the creation of international and regional level RMA associations. The first professional associations were established in North America; NCURA, SRAI, and CAURA (Canadian Association of University Research Administrators, now known as CARA). They were formed during the post-World War II period when skilled people were needed to provide research support for increased research activity funded by government agencies and labs. On the other hand, in most European countries the development of RMA is closely linked with European Union science and technology policy discussions. The establishment of professional associations is ongoing in some jurisdictions.
- According to international surveys (Research Administration as a Profession [RAAAP]), RMAs are well-educated (72% hold masters or doctoral level degrees); approximately 49% are over 45 years of age and the majority (77%) have held other RMA positions in the past. In this female-dominated field, career progression is labyrinthine, with multiple choices and directions, including lateral moves.
Simon Kerridge, editor, recently shared the Handbook’s back story:
“Susi Poli, Mariko Yang-Yoshihara and I met at the NARMA conference (Norwegian Network for Administration and Research Management) in early 2020 (just before the pandemic) and got talking about our various interests related to RMAs… over the next few months (and many zoom meetings) this turned into a book proposal. Three years later with the help of seven additional Regional Editors (Jan Andersen [Denmark], Melinda Fischer [US], Mark Hochman [Australia], Fernanda Oliveira [Brazil], Makiko Takahasi [Japan], Therina Theron [South Africa], and Virág Zsár [Hungary]) we corralled 117 other authors and the book was born. It would not have been possible without this huge joint effort! Plus, thanks to sponsorship from EARMA, ARMA-NL, DARMA, and FORTRAMA we have been able to make it open access, so… enjoy!”
Kerridge estimates that worldwide 50,000 -100,000 or more people work as RMA, “a large number of whom are unaware they are in the profession.”
Overall, the Handbook is a valuable guide and history of RMA and a rich source of frameworks to guide future research and ongoing development of this emerging profession. It provides important contextual information for policy makers and those who work in international settings. A must-have for the electronic library of all RMAs.
The book is fully open access, available online, free of charge. Hard copies can be purchased through Emerald.
Authored by Terry Campbell, Retired
University of Ottawa
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