RIMI4AC - Research and Innovation Managment for Africa and the Caribbean

The Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA), along with nine partners in Africa and the Caribbean, is currently working on a three-year project to strengthen research and innovation management in these regions. The project funding, of about EUR 3 million, comes from the EU’s ACP Science and Technology programme. The specific objective of this action is to strengthen the capacity of research institutions in the regions, to sustainably and effectively manage research and innovation activities. Another related objective is the improvement of dialogue between university-based researchers and policy makers, to inform evidence-based national and regional policies feeding into the sustainable development agendas of the five regions (Caribbean, West Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, and East Africa).

The project is managed and led by SARIMA. It also has a Project Management Board, which comprises 10 people - one representative from each of the partner institutions.  The PMB meets once every six months to report on needs and activities within the respective regions, and to plan activities for the next reporting period.

The project partners and their areas of responsibility are:

• SARIMA - Lead Partner and Project Coordinator;
• University of Botswana, Botswana - Coordinator, Southern Africa Activity
• University of Buea, Cameroon - Coordinator, Central Africa Activity
• University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Coordinator, East Africa Activity
• University of Ibadan, Nigeria - Coordinator, West Africa Activity
• Stellenbosch University, South Africa - Project Evaluation and Dissemination
• University of Technology, Jamaica - Coordinator, Caribbean Activity
• Research & Innovation Management Services, Belgium - Coordinator Training and Development
• ResearchResearch Africa Pty Ltd., South Africa - Coordinator, Websites and Database, development and Dissemination
• The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), Coordinator, Capacity Building activities and Policy Dialogue

ACU-led events/activities to date

• 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 are being 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
  
  
  
• 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 is produced 3 times a year.   If you work in Research Management and would like your office to receive copies of RG2, please contact us at resman@acu.ac.uk   - Issue 1 Jun 2011 - Developing the Researcher  - Issue 2 Oct 2011 - Ethics

  
  
  
• A Benchmarking event for Southern African Universitieswas held in June 2011 during the SARIMA annual conference. The event facilitated by the ACU (and organised by The University of Botswana andStellenbosch University) brought together universities from across Southern Africa - and was a forum for practical discussion,comparison (and improvement) of Research Management provision within their respective universities. During the event, the participant universities discussed their respective institutional procedures and policies in the following areas: Development and Implementation of University Research Strategy; Support for Submission of External Research Proposals and Project Management and Control.
  
  Fourteen Southern Africanuniversities from ten Southern African countries participated in this Benchmarking exercise.  
  
  
• 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.
  
  Please click on the link below to complete the survey - which should take less than 10 minutes; http://www.snapsurveys.com/swh/surveylogin.asp?k=132162908508
  
  The survey findings were summarised in a Paper in June 2011.   The next annual survey is expected to commence in late 2011

For further information on this project contact resman@acu.ac.uk or visit the project website at http://www.rimi4ac.net/en/