VICRA - Streams

Streams

Accessibility and Pitfalls of International Research Funding
2 March - 3 March

On March 2, the Accessibility and Pitfalls of International Research Funding stream will address Challenges from the Systemic Level Up, while on March 3 the focus will be on Diplomacy and the Art of the Deal, seizing opportunities, advocating for equity and signaling improper influence.

Jennifer Morawiecki will outline benefits and risks of international research funding, Nadia Tagoe will share lessons learned dealing with pitfalls and Allen Mukhwana will expose the vulnerability inherent to research funding given as foreign aid.

Ellen Schenk will light the path to Horizon Europe for organizations outside the EU while pointing out the obstacles on the way, and Ahaz Kulanga will uncover the hidden costs of international research funding and encourage institutions in Low and Middle Income Countries to use Equity as the base in their negotiations. Finally, Susan Wyatt Sedwick will clarify improper influence and detail policies aimed at curbing this growing threat to international collaborations, intellectual property, and research integrity.

From Networking to Collaboration
3 March

This stream will not only encourage you but also show you how to become a catalyst for new research collaborations, how to cultivate and nurture teamwork when resources are limited, and how to build and maintain your own international support network. 

Connectivity is rapidly on the rise and research administrators play a key role as catalysts for new collaborations. Michael Khor will share lessons learned from the exciting developments in a fast-moving university fostering international collaborations and interdisciplinary research.

Sérgio Noormahomed will discuss key aspects of collaboration in research administration, while addressing the challenges faced supporting work teams, while dealing with limited resources.

Finally, we do hope you will swipe right on International Speed Dating and join Melinda Fisher and Simon Kerridge for an engaging, interactive rough guide on how to build an international network of like-minded colleagues. 

Innovation to Research Impact Assessment
1 March - 2 March

This two-day stream discusses on March 1 the drivers to add innovative value to research endeavors, and on March 2 how to best evaluate and assess impact in different research settings.

Mr. John McEntire will break a lance for research organizations that reach for solving real problems in innovative ways, and as such provide ultimate value and impact back to society. Subsequently, Prof. Nick Graves will present an impact assessment tool to reveal the potential benefits of competing healthcare innovations. Next, using circular bio-economy as a case in point, Dr José Santos and Dr. Ana Sofia Brandão will illustrate short, medium and long-term effects of research driven by public policy. 

On March 2, Dr. Kate Williams will light a torch for an integrated framework for impact assessment bringing together goals, measurements and incentives within the logics of different research fields. Ms. Bettina Uhrig will reflect on Horizon Europe’s Key Impact Pathways, using the Horizon 2020 project ‘DARE- Dialogue About Radicalisation and Equality’ as a case study. To round off the stream, Dr Akin Adebiyi will provide an opportunity to co-learn while shining a light on innovative assessments of and proximate measures for research impact from a capacity-poor setting.

Personal Development
1 March

This one-day stream will help you cultivate Complexity Fitness and introduce you to the Art of Being Brilliant. 

“We were trained in a zoo, but the world of work is a jungle.” (Sonja Blignaut)
“Leading in a complexity (VUCA) world is an inside job.” (Casper Oelofsen)
“Anything you want, you have to create, and that includes your world, starting inside-out.” (Andy Cope) 

The world has become increasingly interconnected, and with it, complexity and unpredictability snowballed.  In the modern world, things are entangled in myriad ways and more variables have turned dynamic.  In such a high-stakes, volatile context, we need a firm inner core, just as a surfer needs strong core muscles to ride big waves. Sonja & Casper will share four key meta-skills towards a strong core for complexity fitness: They will show you how to be COOL. 

With its roots in positive psychology, Andy Cope’s session is evidence-based but with the big words surgically removed and replaced with common sense, resulting in doable principles and great fun. The challenge is quite straightforward: raising your ‘new normal’ to world class. He will absolutely not challenge you to up your game or work harder, he will be nudging you to remember who you are at your best.

Research Administration as a Profession
1 March - 3 March

Each day’s program forms one chapter of a to be continued story: Chapter 1 – Towards Professionalism, Chapter 2 – Instigating Professional Associations and Chapter 3 – Sharpening Soft Skills,

Mark will take the first plunge on March 1 making a case for professional accreditation while reflecting on implementation efforts at ARMS and SRAI. Subsequently, Susi will put forward that research into RMA not only supports the buildup of professionalism but also our day-to-day jobs, and Virág will set forth the journey to and beyond foRMAtion, an Erasmus+ KA2 project to cultivate RMA in the EU-13 and Western Balkan countries.

Cementing the way for (inter)national RMA Associations, Therina will contemplate two decades of interventions to strengthen and promote the RMA role in southern Africa. Subsequently, Makiko will focus on the drivers for organization, certification and evaluation of RMA in Japan, and Cristina & Valentina will map pathways leading to the formation of national RMA communities drawing for their experiences in Portugal & Italy.

Simon will break the proverbial ice exploring the diverse skills, training and expertise of research managers and administrators (RMAs) on an international scale. Next, Madhuri would like to play ball on how RMAs can keep themselves motivated, avoiding either burnout or boredom, and Karin & Jeanne will let you test tools and try strategies to enhance teamwork, collaboration and communication, to make the work of RMAs more effective.

Research Integrity - Responsible Conduct of Research
2 March - 3 March

On March 2, the first day for the Research Integrity (RI) stream, the presenters will shine a light on an RI toolbox for Research Performing Organizations (RPOs) and hold a mirror up to Research Funding Organizations (RFOs). The next day, the focus will be on novel methods to support RI Administrators (RIA) while promoting RI and managing misconduct - methods underpinned by cultivating virtues.

Ted Rohr wonders if it is possible to translate compliance and oversight into useful tools for researchers, while simultaneously assuring the RPO that these risks are managed appropriately; Panagiotis Kavouras will unwrap the building blocks in the SOPs4RI toolbox, a set of guidelines and operating procedures for RPOs to promote and safeguard RI; and Costas Charitidis will tackle RI issues that any Research Funder might encounter and should resolve.

Sophia Pan will portray the challenges and the mental struggles RIAs face a ‘gatekeepers, when dealing with research misconduct allegations, and will propose solutions to improve or overcome such situations; Stefanie Van der Burght will encourage you to implement an RI Promotion Plan as it will give your institution’s RI policy either a head start or significant boost; and Ana Marušić will tempt you to become a trainer in virtue-based research integrity.

Understanding Research and Researchers
1 March

The one-day stream first paints a general picture of the rapidly evolving research environment and the drivers behind these changes, and explores ways for research administrators to align with these changes. Next, it outlines a researcher's view on compliance requests and finishes with a research administrator's view and experience. 

Prof. Les Labuschagne argues that the research life cycle, from ideation to impact, is evolving rapidly and consequently the support researchers need through these phases.  What complicates matters are changes to the nature of research opportunities and practices brought about by the 4th Industrial Revolution and by the current pandemic, to peer-review practices and to the role of the researcher in Higher Education. With responsibilities on the increase, how can research administrators ensure alignment with these changing needs of researchers? 

Next, we will dive into the psycho-emotional dimensions of supporting researchers when Prof. Marianne Franklin navigates the increasingly complex legal requirements for research ethics relating to data storage, access, and protection compliance. Researchers can perceive data protection and privacy rules for networked projects as an attack on academic freedom, creativity, and critical scholarship. How can researchers and administrators work together so that these considerations are seen as a way to improve the design of a research project and its contribution to knowledge? 

Building a good working relationship with a researcher means understanding their research, goals and motivations. Ms. Angela Noble will discuss useful methods to come to grasp with this, whilst at the same time considering the needs of the research funder and their goals and motivations.