Activities

We had our kick-off meeting on 11-12 January 2010. Since then and during the past 2 years, we have completed extensive work and a number of successes under the RIMI4AC project. Here is a brief summary of what has been achieved thus far.

• Establishment of Regional Research Management Associations

  As part of the RIMI4AC project, Research and Innovation Management Associations (RIMA) for East Africa, Central Africa & the Caribbean have been developed.  Initial meetings have been held and interim steering committees formed for these respective regions. (RIMAs already exist for West and Southern Africa).  The aim is for the RIMAs to act as professional bodies for research management staff in their respective regions.  The RIMAs will contribute to the professionalization of the RM profession, and increase awareness of research management and innovation issues in their Higher Education environments. All pf the RIMAs have held Capacity Building workshops in collaboration with the project partners to strengthen research management capacity in their regions.
   
  This activity is led by the ACU

• Regional Newsletter

  The first issue of RG2 was published in June 2011. RG2, based on the ACU’s Research Global magazine provides a forum through which experience, information, issues and good practice (on Research Management related issues) can be shared.  Copies of RG2 are being sent to Vice Chancellors/Executive Heads and Research Management Offices (or equivalent) of universities in the Africa and Caribbean regions. RG2, which is published in both English and French will be produced 3 times a year.

  If you work in Research Management and would like your office to receive copies of RG2, please contact the ACU at resman@acu.ac.uk

  This activity is led by the ACU

• Training Workshops & Capacity Building event

  Extensive Training workshops have been carried out by RIMS in various regions with regard to building Capacity amongst Research Managers. Workshops thus far have taken place in West Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa and the Caribbean with Central Africa the next target in July.

  The next evens takes place in Cameroon in March 2012.

  This activity is led by RIMS

• Launch of RIMA websites

  WARIMA’s new website was the first of the RIMA websites to be launched in May 2011. Websites for CARIMA, CabRIMA and EARIMA were all delivered by October 2011. Along with the final website delivery, an expertise platform using a simple questions and answer basis was also created and delivered in October 2011. This platform is currently being populated with common RM questions and asnswers and discussions regarding policy. This platform can be accessed through each of the individual RIMA websites.

  This activity is led by Research Africa

• Survey of Research Management Staff and Academics on research management practices

  In October 2010, the ACU conducted a survey on current practice in Research Management (in the project regions).  The survey aims to provide baseline data of current provision of Research and Innovation Management support in the ACP region, in order to inform policy at institutional and national levels as well as ensure that work undertaken at institutional and regional levels feeds into, and reflects wider policy issues. It also seeks to ensure an informed policy dialogue between key stakeholders who are able to influence practice at various levels in the research community.

  The paper following the first survey can be found on the ACU website here.  http://www.acu.ac.uk/member_services/professional_networks/research_management/rimi4ac.

  The 2011 Survey is now open – please click on this link to complete the survey http://www.snapsurveys.com/swh/surveylogin.asp?k=13216290850

• This activity is led by the ACU