Seminar on Quality Assurance of EARMA Professional Training takes place

The European Association of Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA) hosted a seminar, Quality Assurance of EARMA Professional Training, Wednesday May 5, 2021. The session was a thought-provoking, robust and fruitful exchange on how to improve the future offering of EARMA’s professional development programme.

Organised by the EARMA Professional Development and Recognition committee (PDRC), the seminar was hosted and opened by PDRC Chair Astrid Vigtil. Attendees then received a welcome address by Esther Philips, EARMA Chair and European Certificate in Research Management (CRM) alumni.

Attendees were treated to a history of EARMA’s professional training programme by Jan Andersen. He informed the group that, following EARMA’s establishment in 1995, the Association took its first steps into training provision in 1999. Today, EARMA is delivering early, intermediate and leadership level courses for the research management and administration community in Europe and for students from beyond these shores.

Trainers provided presentations outlining the learning programmes of the CRM. The attendees then received an update from our UK-based partners at ARMA regarding quality assessment processes, new regulations, and the quality assurance of the training.

The discussion portion of the seminar then began. Firstly, with input from the assessors on the assessment process followed by a wider, lively debate in which the group shared their views on how to refine and progress EARMA’s professional development programme. It was felt that further analysis would need to take place.

We would like to thank the 20 trainers and assessors invited for their active participation. The PDRC received lots of valuable feedback and this will be used to further improve the quality assurance of the training offered by EARMA to the RMA community.

Next month, we will be asking the EARMA community what their training needs are via a survey to learn how EARMA can best support research managers and administrators to achieve their professional goals. Please keep a lookout for our June newsletter where we’ll be asking you to take part and share your views.