ASSOCIATION RESEARCH ADMINISTRATORS IN AFRICA November 4th 2010, Munyonyo

Training Health Researchers into Vocational Excellence (THRiVE)

Opportunity to Enhance Institution Research Management and administration

Achilles Katamba On behalf of

Dr. Saidi Kapiga Deputy Director, THRiVE

STRUCTURE OF THE PRESENTATION

Brief description of THRiVEStrengthening partnerships & networking

Institutional strengtheningHow do we enhance Research Management and Administration

THRIVE: PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS

Country Uganda Tanzania Rwanda Kenya UK

Institutions Makerere Univ.

KCMC NUR LSHTM

Gulu Univ. Cambridge Univ.

UVRI NIMR ICIPE

Goal

Empower East African academic institutions for effective participation in the march of science.

FOCUS AND SCOPE OF THRIVE

Objectives

Develop and sustain a consortium functioning as a strong network

Contribute to empowering institutions to build a critical mass of well trained research scientists capable of winning competitive national and international grants

Augment the development of a conducive institutional environment for research and research training

Support systems for improved governance/management of research activities

THRiVE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

Programme Steering Committee

Executive Directorate

Institutional Implementation Committees: Cambridge, LSHTM,

Mak, KCMC, Gulu, NUR, NIMR, UVRI, ICIPE

Education and Small Grants Committee

PhD/Post Doctoral Training Committee

Finance Committee

Advisory Board

STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS AND

NETWORKING WITHIN THRiVE Public understanding of science – Cambridge,

Makerere, ICIPE DTM&H (Makerere, KCMC, UVRI, LSHTM, Univ

of Washington & Johns Hopkins) Medical education Partnership: Makerere,

Gulu, Mbarara, UVRI/MRC,... KCMC but not NUR

Carried out needs assessment for short courses e.g. Scientific Writing workshops

Enhanced south to south collaboration Website facilitating communication among

partners

STRENGTHENING EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS

AND NETWORKINGWith other Networks/Institutions outside THRiVE Association of Research Administrators

(ARAA): 3-5 Nov 2010 Kampala, Uganda, Theme: Institutionalizing Research Administration in Africa

Initiative for Strengthening Research Capacity in Africa (ISHReCA )

MUII (Makerere-UVRI Infection and Immunity) Project Public understanding of science - British Institute of

EA Other WT Consortia Emerging NIH-MEPI network

HHS AGENCIES PARTNER WITH PEPFAR TO TRANSFORM AFRICAN MEDICAL

EDUCATION

A dozen countries to benefit from $130 million investment over 5 years to strengthen medical training and research capacity

The U.S Department of HHS is partnering with PEPFAR with a plan to transform African medical education & dramatically increase the number of health care workers.

MEPI grants are being awarded directly to African institutions working in partnership with U.S. medical schools & universities.

“We must dramatically transform African medical education to increase the number of qualified care providers available & develop the scientific expertise needed for research & innovation,” Eric Goosby

STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL SYSTEMS

Upgrading laboratory infrastructure Support for upgrade and enhance access to IT Staff development through Masters/PhDs/Postdocs Cross appointments: between Research Institutes

and Universities Strengthening research management systems Strengthening systems for ethical review &

oversight NIMR (Moshi) collaborating with KCMC to develop

plans for strengthening Masters training at KCMC

THE THRiVE APPROACH TO BUILDING INSTITUTIONAL

SYSTEMS

Requires linkage and collaboration with central institutional administration

Avoiding unnecessary duplication, parallel structures and competition with other partners

Institutional Implementation Committees to meet regularly and chart out a path for institutional strengthening

Need for long term commitment and focus Good examples needed

How do we enhance Research Management and Administration

In order to enhance capacity for research management and administration three is need to develop a shared understanding of what research management and administration entails and challenges that research administrators and managers experience, thus deterring achievement of maximum performance in their day to day work

How do we enhance Research Management and Administration

The ARAA meeting offers an opportunity to explore and document opportunities and challenges that affect research management and administration and more importantly contribute to the long and drawn-out process of enhancing capacity and research outputs

How to enhance Research Management and Administration

Some of the areas of consideration should include developing and implementation of governance tools like Research strategic and operational plans

Resource mobilization plan specifically targeted to improve research management and administration

Administrative and financial procedures manuals

How do we enhance Research Management and Administration

Guidelines for accreditation and evaluation of research units

Information and knowledge management including proper documentation and record keeping

Research policies including those of intellectual property

Codes of ethics and regulatory processes Human resource support and career

development

Conclusion

There is need to enhance professionalization and institutionalization of research governance and management as a mean of enhancing institutional and national innovation systems to meet the challenges posed by changing contexts and new requirements for research

THE FUTURE: AIM HIGH AND FAR

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