Postgraduate Diploma in Research Management and Administration

Purpose

Learners who have successfully completed this qualification will have specialised knowledge of the most important aspects related to the management and administration of research in higher education institutions and be able to apply this knowledge practically in the actual practice of working in a research office (or related environment), with a focus on the following themes:

• The African research landscape.
• The stakeholders, types and uses of research and research-related information in the context of Research Support Offices (including an introduction to the measurement of science, an overview of current trends in scholarly publishing and the communication of research to various stakeholders).
• The principles of research craftsmanship, including the management of grant-making processes, development and evaluation of grant proposals, the basics of project planning and management, the costing and financial management of research projects risk and change management as a research manager, research contracts and intellectual property management, research partnership facilitation and management.
• The principles and practice of Research Integrity and Ethics as required by the functions and services provided by Research Support Offices.

Rationale

This Postgraduate Diploma in Research Management and Administration, Level 8 will allow young staff in research management and administration offices or career entrants, across Africa, to obtain a relevant qualification. It will attract more entrants into research management and administration as a career and assist universities in the Southern African Development Community region to move away from the unsustainable and ineffective practice of employing senior academics as part-time centralised research administrators.

Target audience

1. Staff members of Research Support Offices (RSOs) and Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) of higher education institutions in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, including the dedicated staff of RSOs and the academic staff members seconded from time to time to work in RSOs.
2. Staff members of science granting councils and other funders in SADC countries (and beyond in Sub-Saharan Africa).
3. Staff members in Government departments and agencies (for example, Department of Science and Technology in South Africa, Department of Higher Education and Training, etc.).
4. Academics interested in research management and administration (for example, individuals serving on institutional research committees or ethics committees).
5. Graduates looking for opportunities to enhance their career prospects.
6. Given that the Strengthening of Collaboration, Leadership and Professionalisation in Research Management in SADC and European Union (EU) Higher Education Institutions Consortium (STORM) includes institutions from countries in Europe and the Baltic, there may be individuals from those countries who would enrol for this Postgraduate Diploma, or parts of it.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) will be applied. This could take the form of the assessment of a learning portfolio or recognition of learning that occurred in the work environment of the individual concerned. Learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements may be granted access to the qualification through RPL.

Entry Requirements

• An appropriate academic qualification (Advanced Diploma or Bachelor's Degree) at NQF Level 7.

The qualification consists of the following four compulsory modules totalling 120 Credits, at Level 8

• Research Landscape in Africa, 15 Credits.
• Management of Research and Research-related Information, 35 Credits.
• Research Grants Management, 35 Credits.
• Research Integrity and Ethics, 35 Credits.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of and engagement in the area of Research Management and Administration with an understanding of the theories, research methodologies, methods and techniques relevant to the field of how to apply such knowledge in a particular context.
2. Use a range of specialised skills to identify, analyse and address complex or abstract problems drawing systematically on the body of knowledge and methods appropriate to the field of Research Management and Administration.
3. Identify and address ethical issues based on critical reflection on the sustainability of different ethical systems to specific contexts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Describe the unique environment, conditions and features that define African Research.
• Explain the main trends in the governance, institutional landscape, Research and Development funding and scientific output of African countries.
• Identify, characterise and explain the roles and interactions between the relevant internal stakeholders in the management and use of Research Related Information (RRI).
• Identify, characterise and explain the roles and interactions between the relevant external stakeholders in the management and use of RRI.
• Define/specify and describe the different types of RRI and the Information Management Systems and databases required for the collection, management and use of these types of information.
• Identify, characterise and explain the different purposes for which RRI is used.
• Explain and demonstrate how research is communicated to various stakeholders.
• Critically reflect and comment on the values involved in responsible research.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Critically reflect and comment on the role of university Research Support Offices against the broader landscape of African research.
• Explain the basic principles of the development and management of RRI databases with a view to the integrated reporting or RRI.
• Demonstrate a critical awareness of the key issues related to trends in scholarly publishing (including open access) with a focus on Africa and South Africa.
• I dentify, characterise and explain the management processes required for grant-making, which includes key responsibilities and routines needed for successful grants management, the appropriate management of pre-award and post-award phases, the communication and implementation of funders' requirements, the administration and management of peer-review processes, and ensuring international compliance to good practice in terms of submissions and the internal review of grant applications.
• Explain and demonstrate understanding of the generic requirements for good grant proposals, including the ability to define, identify and explain the specific characteristics of research grant proposals that distinguish them from other academic and business documentation, and demonstrating the ability to critically evaluate research grant proposals in order to facilitate the improvement thereof in a research management context. It includes a thorough understanding of the appropriate indicators for subsequent monitoring and evaluation of research grant impact.
• Identify, characterise and explain the role of a project manager, the basic principles of project management, and apply a selected set of project management tools in the sphere of research project management. This includes the ability to describe the specific characteristics of a research project as compared to business or Information Technology (IT) projects, to do the appropriate costing of a research project, to identify and manage project risks, and apply this understanding to develop and evaluate research project plans and budgets. It also includes an understanding of the project manager as a risk and change manager, and the ability to illustrate how research project-related risks and changes can be mitigated.
• Explain and demonstrate the ability to manage the post-award reporting processes associated with research grants. This includes the demonstrated ability to draw up financial management reports, to ensure appropriate alignment between narrative and financial reports, and how to use the appropriate indicators of impact to demonstrate project success.
• Demonstrate a critical awareness of the key issues related to the facilitation and management of research partnerships, which form an integral part of the grantsmanship process and the management of large research grants.
• Demonstrate a critical awareness of the key elements required for effective research management and administration, including the development and nurturing of strong intra-institutional partnerships with academic/research personnel and other professional support staff members in the grants management context.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Explain and demonstrate how research performance is measured using basic principles and practices of bibliometrics, including the key bibliometric data sources and the key bibliometric indicators.
• Explain and illustrate an understanding of the best practice guidelines for the management of research and research related contracts and agreements and for the protection of intellectual property generated through research projects.
• Explain and illustrate an understanding of the best practice guidelines for the management of research and research related contracts and agreements and for the protection of intellectual property generated through research projects.
• Have an understanding of the 'research integrity' curriculum (including management of conflict of interest, publication, authorship and peer review ethics, collaboration ethics, ethical issues related to data management and transfer, etc.) and gain an international perspective on the importance of training in responsible conducting of research.
• Understand the difference between a 'compliance' and 'personal responsibility' approach to research integrity.
• Be familiar with the Singapore declaration of Research integrity.
• Understand what are considered 'questionable research practices' and 'research misconduct' and understand how cases of research misconduct should be investigated and reported.
• Understand the basic principles of research ethics in the context of research involving humans, animals and biosafety.
• Understand the kinds of systems and processes needed to implement ethics review and approval of applicable research.

Integrated Assessment

A summary of the ratio between time allocated to learning and assessment is as follows

Self-study of prescribed literature (80%)

• Face-to-face teaching on the main campus (12%)
• Technology mediated group tutorials using Skype (8%)
• 1 written module assignment (5,000 words - Module 1) and three written literature reviews (10,000 words each - Modules 2, 3 and 4)

Summative assessment is through group discussions during contact sessions/online learning activities. Formal (summative) assessment is in terms of a written literature review on the topic of interest (10,000 words). The literature review will largely be independent self-study but academic input from the staff will be provided in the form of technologically mediated group tutorials (15 Skype sessions of 2 hours each).