Research Administration as a Profession

Research Administration as a Profession (RAAAP) Taskforce
Research Administration as a Profession (RAAAP) is an international survey which seeks to identify the key skills, attitudes and behaviours of successful research management and administration (RMA) leaders.

The initial RAAAP survey, held in 2016, was funded by NCURA. It was led by Simon Kerridge (University of Kent, UK) and Stephanie Scott (Columbia University, USA) as Co-PIs, and supported by an international advisory group. In June 2018, the Council of the International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS) formally endorsed the RAAAP survey as an INORMS initiative

The Taskforce

The RAAAP Taskforce was formed in October 2018 and has evolved over the years. Initially it included many members involved in the initial (2016) RAAAP exercise, and expanded to include representation from each of the INORMS Associations and also some other related associations.

The aim of the RAAAP Taskforce is to continue the work of the initial RAAAP survey, by surveying Research Managers and Administrators every three years (or thereabouts), to collect and analyse longitudinal data about the profession. The Taskforce is also responsible for revising the initial survey and editing future iterations of the survey, as required.

The Surveys

The RAAAP survey now comprises two main sections. One section of the survey is a streamlined version of the 2016 survey. This section is intended to remain the same longitudinally. The other section of the survey focuses on a specific area of interest, of particular relevance at the time – the focus of this section will change with each iteration of the survey.

RAAAP-3 (2022): The third iteration of the RAAAP survey (RAAAP-3) is now live and focusses on “How I Became a Research Manager and Administrator” (HIBARMA) looking at the myriad of ways we find ourselves in this profession.
RAAAP-2 (2019): The second iteration of the RAAAP survey (RAAAP-2) was launched on 1 October 2019. The ‘guest’ section of the survey focused on “Research Impact”.
RAAAP (2016): The first iteration of the RAAAP survey attracted responses from over 2,600 individuals from 64 countries. The survey’s findings were presented at RM and INORMS conferences between 2016 and 2018.