UCC lead on the creation of Europe’s first ever competence framework for research managers

27 Jan 2025

The European Commission have launched the first ever Competence Framework for Research Managers (RM Comp), to address the growing and diverse roles of research management.

Led by Mary Kate O’Regan from University College Cork’s Department of People and Culture, and coordinator of the Horizon European project CARDEA, RM Comp provides an international standard of the career architecture for the professional development and recognition of the role of research manager.

The creation of RM Comp provides a unified framework that ensures the acknowledgement of research manager roles, facilitates professional development, and enhances collaboration across European research performing organisations.

Available on the European Research Area (ERA) Talent Platform, RM Comp serves as an empowering tool applicable at both organisational and individual levels, fulfilling various functions such as:

• Recognising the essential competences required in research management roles, both within and beyond academic settings.
• Emphasising the value of research manager experience by highlighting activities that effectively address the competences outlined in the framework.
• Generating awareness on both the employer (demand) and research manager (supply) sides.
• Creating job descriptions and assessing job applications from a standardised perspective.
• Assisting research managers in mapping their competencies to establish personalised development and training plans which will enable continuous monitoring of career progress.

The benefits of RM Comp extend to the broader research community by providing:

• Stronger Support Systems: Focusing on stakeholder engagement and project oversight, RM Comp equips Research Managers (RMs) to provide enhanced support to researchers, enabling more efficient project delivery.
• Increased Resources: A step towards standardised training and career development for RMs ensures that researchers receive consistent, high-quality administrative and managerial support.
• Greater Opportunities: By raising the profile of research management as a profession, RM Comp contributes to developing a robust and well-supported research ecosystem, ultimately benefiting researchers across Europe.

"RM Comp identifies key skills and competencies needed for effective research management and supports professional growth. It will provide consistency across roles and institutions, helping key stakeholders to enhance their career development and enabling organisations to align research management practices with European standards. RM Comp is a living document designed to evolve alongside the profession," said Mary Kate O’Regan.

Professor John Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research & Innovation, said: "I wish to congratulate Mary Kate O’Regan and colleagues involved in the CARDEA project on the creation of Europe’s first ever competence framework for research management. Research managers are a vital element of the research ecosystem, and the adaptable structure of RM Comp allows for integrating emerging roles, technologies, and institutional needs, ensuring its continued relevance in the research management profession."