Call for Expressions of Interest for the EARMA-NCURA International Research Management Fellowship Programme.

On 29 January 2009 we sent out a Call for Expressions of Interest relating to the planned EARMA-NCURA International Research Management Programme. We have received a number of enquiries relating to the Call. In response to these enquiries we would like to emphasize the following points, in relation to the Programme and to the Call. Please note that we have also extended the deadline for receiving Expressions of Interest – please now send these to us by 16 March 2009.

The International Research Management Fellowship Programme is a joint initiative between EARMA and NCURA (the National Council of University Research Administrators) in the United States.

The main aims of the Programme are to train research managers in Europe and in the US, in order to encourage and facilitate international research collaborations between the two regions.

The Programme will provide a mechanism for European research managers and administrators to travel to research organizations in the United States, in order to undertake a pre-agreed programme of mutual learning and knowledge exchange.

Equally, the Programme will provide opportunities for research support staff in US universities and research organizations to travel to Europe for the same reason.

The individuals who travel across the Atlantic (in either direction) will be known as Fellows of the Programme. The organizations that they visit will be known as Host Institutions.

The Programme is at an early stage of implementation, and both EARMA and NCURA now need to identify those institutions that would be prepared to host Fellows for a short period within the next 6-12 months.

EARMA wants to hear from those organizations that would be willing to host a Fellow from the United States. This is open to Institutional Members and Ordinary (individual) Members of EARMA.

The precise details of the Programme are yet to be worked out, and this is intended to form a pilot study which will determine the best way to operate the Programme in the future.

The Host Institution and the Fellow would agree a joint programme of activities and learning, before the exchange takes place.

It is intended that the Host Institution would benefit as much as the Fellow. For example, European organizations which host Fellows from the US could learn valuable information about;

•    US funding opportunities (federal/NIH, charitable foundations),
•    how to be successful with such funding applications and how the application systems work (e.g. grants.gov)
•    best practice in setting up international collaborative and contractual agreements,
•    how research support offices are structured and governed in the USA, and
•    how the equivalent full costing mechanisms operate in the US.

Although not yet strictly defined, Fellows would be expected to visit for periods of between 2 and 4 weeks. Host Institutions would be expected to provide the following;

•    A desk space and appropriate equipment (PC, network access, printing access, etc.)
•    A structured programme of work that engages the Fellow and enables them to learn about how European research organizations work
•    Meetings with appropriate staff, and agreed time to reflect on mutual learning
•    Advice on accommodation options and local information regarding travel, shopping, etc.
•    A written evaluation of the Fellowship visit and the mutual learning outcomes for both Host and Fellow

The Fellows would be expected to pass on their experience and knowledge of how research management operates at their institution, and also to respect all organizational rules and regulations (including health and safety, confidentiality, and so on). Fellows’ salaries and expenses would be paid by their own (employing) organization, and not by the Host Institution.

If you think your organization would be interested in hosting a Fellow from the US, during the next 6-12 months, please read the attached document and submit an Expression of Interest. Please note that – at this stage – this is only a Call for Expressions of Interest. There is no obligation or commitment required on the part of any organization that responds to this Call.

European Host Institutions would – of course – be encouraged to send their own Fellows to the US subsequently. However, this would not be a definite requirement, and exchanges do not have to be directly reciprocal.

To ensure that organizational endorsement has been obtained at this early stage, please ensure that any response to the Call has been authorized and signed by a senior administrative representative (e.g. the director of your research office, or of the finance office).

Please note that any response to this Call should not exceed 4 pages of A4. Shorter responses 1-2 pages long are encouraged.

We look forward to receiving your Expressions of Interest by 16 March 2009.