Towards an integrated approach: university research management in an institutional context

Universities throughout the world have become more proactive in the management of their research activity in response to an increasingly competitive global environment. Whilst the importance of robust structures is recognised, the precise mechanisms adopted vary between institutions. Issues of particular concern are the extent to which professional research managers are able to forge effective relationships with academic departments and other administrative units of their universities, and the extent to which the strategy for research management is integrated into a wider institutional strategy. This article, based on an intensive benchmarking study of fifteen higher education institutions from nine countries, identifies a range of approaches to address these issues, as well as highlighting specific examples of good practice that might be considered for wider utilization.