NEWSLETTER OF ARMS
January - February 2023 |
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It certainly has been a busy start to the year! I can’t believe that we are at the end of February already!
To my mind, 2023 is the year of new beginnings, and bodes for a very exciting year on the ARMS front. As you know, we are returning to in-person conferences this year (Australasian Ethics Network (AEN) Conference in May and our signature annual conference in September – see call for Abstracts below), and there is a lot going on with PD@Zoom, SIG and Chapter events underway. Some highlights to note: see the article by Amanda and Jaylene from our Board about the Member Engagement Initiative; we’re keen to recruit more Training Fellows
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to deliver our professional development offerings, and we’d love to see more members on our Standing Committees to ensure that we continue to deliver high quality benefits for all members. In 2023, we’ll also be busy updating our Constitution, as foreshadowed at our AGM last year so watch out for more information.
ARMS has also become an active voice of the sector through representation on many national committees and participation in consultations. If you are aware of an opportunity that is appropriate for ARMS to make a submission, please let us know.
More locally, there may be new people joining your own teams and organisations. I hope that you can introduce them to ARMS and encourage them to join. At last count, we have over 4000 registered members which is very impressive! Regardless of where we work and what we do, we are all part of an inclusive community of practice where we respect diversity in all its forms – you’re not alone!
I’d like to call out that many of our members have had to deal with extreme weather events from floods to fires to cyclones. Some of our members may also have friends and relatives experiencing war, famine and earthquakes. On behalf of all of our membership, our thoughts are with you. I hope you and your loved ones are safe.
As mentioned above, chapter events are now ramping up. For our South Australian members, in a few weeks’ time I will be travelling to a networking event and panel session. I hope to see you there! Yours in ARMS,
Dr Tania Bezzobs ARMS President |
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| RELEASE OF THE 2022 REPORT TO MEMBERS
The Society is pleased to announce the release of its 9th Report to Members for the period ending FY 30 June 2022.
The Board is very proud of the Society’s achievements and this report especially highlights the collegiality and agility of all members despite ongoing disruptions and uncertainty caused by the pandemic. The report captures the wide variety of milestones of the Society tracked against our strategic priorities. |
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| OUR MEMBERS REPRESENTING YOUR INTERESTS A key strategic priority of ARMS is the Promotion of the Profession (Strategic Priority 2) where ARMS actively works with stakeholders and influencers to promote the research management profession. The Society has positioned itself as a key voice in the sector and regularly approached by key stakeholders seeking volunteer members to serve on a range of working groups. |
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We congratulate the following members on their recent appointments: - Dr Semira Dautovic from Macquarie University who has been appointed as the ARMS representative on the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC’s) Australian Persistent Identifier Strategy Taskforce.
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Ms Michelle Vincent from Swinburne University has been appointed as the ARMS representative on the ORCID Steering Committee.
- Professor Jason White from Charles Sturt University has been appointed as the ARMS representative on the Australian Open Science Network.
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ARMS President, Dr Tania Bezzobs (UTS), Dr Jodi Clyde-Smith (University of Queensland) and Ms Nicole Makoviney (University of Sydney) have each been appointed on a focus group convened by the Australian Research Council (ARC) looking at the role and purpose of the ARC within the Australian research system.
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MEMBER ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES There is a large community of ARMS members who offer their time and expertise to support ARMS activities. In fact, ARMS wouldn’t be able to provide the courses and professional development opportunities it does without such strong support and engagement from the research management community.
The ARMS Board have been developing a number of initiatives that aim to recognise and more widely communicate the expertise and contributions of our members. |
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This includes an honour roll (see separate article in newsletter) which will be available on the website, that acknowledges members who have given their time towards voluntary activities. This will also give members an opportunity to look at the skillsets involved in these volunteer roles and determine whether they might be the perfect fit for future volunteer opportunities! There will also be more opportunities for our members to be in the spotlight in our newsletter, whether it be to showcase a new initiative, activities, expertise, or major achievements. We encourage members to engage with this opportunity to raise their profile, celebrate their wins, and educate other members about potential career development opportunities. We will also more prominently feature research management impact case studies (new call opening soon!) on both the website and in the newsletter, to communicate and acknowledge major initiatives or activities that have incorporated innovation, ingenuity, or have had a significant impact on the research management field.
Another major initiative has focussed on connecting members across the ARMS network. We have been working on a skills network which we will be launching at the 2023 ARMS conference. The aim of this network, which will be available to members on the ARMS website, is to feature the skills and experience of our members as a networking and connecting platform. Members will be able to search this platform and connect and engage with research management professionals within the ARMS network.
Please keep an eye out for the roll out of these initiatives over the course of the year, and we welcome any constructive feedback for future improvements. Ms Jaylene Wehipeihana and Dr Amanda Cleaver
ARMS Board Members leading the Member Engagement Initiative |
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| CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR ARMS HONOUR ROLL |
The Society recognises the importance of members who volunteer their time, skills and expertise to support the delivery of high-quality services for the greater benefit of all members.
In recognition of our volunteer members, the ARMS Board recently agreed to publish an "Honour Roll"- This is a listing on the ARMS website which formally acknowledges the contributions made by individual members. |
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To help populate the "Honour Roll" we invite all ARMS members who have made a contribution to the Society, no matter how big or small!! Examples include, active involvement on the ARMS Board, Chapter Committees, Special Interest Groups, Standing Committees, conference committees or as an authorised Training Fellow, just to name a few!
The Society values the ongoing support of all volunteer members and this is a small way to recognise you and your valued contributions! https://www.researchmanagement.org.au/arms-member-honour-roll-form |
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| ARMS WEBSITE – WE HAVE CHANGED TO HELP YOU STAY BETTER CONNECTED. |
A key recommendation from a recent members’ survey is the ongoing review of the structure and content of the website to enable improved engagement, navigation and sourcing of information for all members.
The ARMS Board in collaboration with the Executive Office have recently reviewed and streamlined content of the website. A new menu bar has been created (see screenshot below) to better capture key offerings available to our members |
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The new “Communities of Practice” tab is now the home for all information regarding Chapters, Special Interest Groups and Networks; and we have included a tab on “Awards & Recognition” – This is where you can find information about our new honour roll, Fellows of ARMS and other award opportunities and past recipients.
We value your feedback and invite you to visit our revised website. Please email your feedback to ARMSMembership@researchmanagement.org.au |
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| OPEN CALL FOR MEMBERSHIP ON STANDING COMMITTEES
Standing Committees are important in supporting the ARMS Board in meeting its strategic objectives as outlined in the Strategic Plan. Expressions of Interest are now open for eligible ARMS members to serve on a range of Standing Committees for the Society. Specifically, vacancies are now available for membership on the following committees. |
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- Education and Professional Development Committee (EPDC);
- Governance, Finance and Audit Committee (GFAC); and
- Conferences and Major Events Committee (CMEC)
Interested? Full details are available on the ARMS website. |
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ACCREDITATION, EDUCATION & TRAINING |
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| OPEN CALL FOR ARMS TRAINING FELLOWS TO DELIVER FOUNDATION LEVEL ACCREDITATION PROGRAMS AND/OR MASTER CLASSES
ARMS Training Fellow is a title given to an individual recognised by the Accreditation Council as having the knowledge and skills to deliver workshops on a range of research management related topics as part of the Foundation Level Accreditation Program and/or our Master classes.
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Due to increased demand for our programs, the Society is now seeking to expand on its current pool of Training Fellows across the Australasian region, including Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Do you have? - An undergraduate degree and/or five years’ experience (minimum) in research administration at a university or other post-secondary educational setting, hospital, not-for-profit research organisation, industry research laboratory or government research laboratory;
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Demonstrated theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of research administration and/or sub-field or research; and
- Experience in delivering workshops and instructional presentations to a broad audience in-person and online.
Then we would like to hear from you!
Benefits of Becoming an ARMS Training Fellow
The role of Training Fellow is a rewarding way to share best practice; to hone your leadership skills; and to actively contribute to the upskilling of our global research management workforce. It is seriously great fun, providing opportunities to engage with like-minded Research Management Professionals from across the broad geographical remit of ARMS. You will also receive an honorarium payment to recognise the time needed to prepare and deliver a workshop and to help support your own professional development training needs.
Click below to hear from current Training Fellows about the benefits of the role: |
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| DELIVERY SCHEDULE UPDATE
The 2023 delivery schedule for Foundation Level Accreditation Program (FLAP) elective modules and Master Classes. is currently being finalised. We anticipate offering a minimum of two sessions for each elective module this year with registrations opening in April 2023. The HDR electives, which attract fewer participants, may only be delivered once this year. |
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Compulsory, region specific, online modules are open for registration: - Module 1.1: The National Research and Innovation System (Aus, NZ, Singapore)
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Module 1.2: Legislation as it Affects Research (Aus, NZ, Singapore)
- Module 1.3: Understanding Research and Researchers
Registration in all ARMS modules, and other accreditation offerings, is now located within the Accreditation tab on the white ARMS menu. Please click on Register for Courses.
We expect to deliver the Costing and Pricing of Research and Fundamentals of Project Management Master classes three times this year. Further details will be released in the first Accreditation newsletter for 2023. Please keep an eye out for this email on the 28th of February. |
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| PD SESSIONS @ ZOOM: A PRACTICAL NARRATIVE/CASE STUDY WRITING WORKSHOP FOR RESEARCH SUPPORT STAFF |
Research in higher education continues to change and adapt as the sector responds to continuing constraints imposed by limited government funding, the rising costs of research and the recent COVID pandemic.
While research funding bodies, governments and donors can be the primary drivers for gathering evidence that demonstrates engagement and impact, a case study or narrative can also be an effective tool to illustrate the practical support provided by research managers when building researcher capacity, identifying new funding opportunities, capturing research outputs and enabling quality research. |
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The goal of this professional workshop is to highlight the benefits of using case studies or narratives within organisations to demonstrate engagement and impact driven or enabled by research managers and research support staff. Practical examples will be used to show how cases studies can be a useful approach to facilitate professional development and knowledge transfer when demonstrating the impact of research support. Narratives such as these are also an effective tool for use during a job interview. Date: March 15, 2023 Time: 12pm - 1pm AEDT Presenter: Dr Lesley Ashton - QuoVadis Consulting
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PD SESSIONS @ ZOOM: OPEN ACCESS IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND - WHAT DO WE KNOW? |
For the last five years the Council of New Zealand University Librarians (CONZUL) has been checking the state of open access to publications by our university researchers. We know that roughly half our publications are available for access but how does that break down? Where are they? How much did it cost? How much more could we be putting in our repositories? What are the implications of the new MBIE open research policy? Hear two of the team behind this work describe what we know – and come along with your questions for them.
Date: March 22, 2023 Time: 1pm - 2pm NZDT Presenter: Jess Howie - University of Waikato & Richard White - University of Otago |
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PD SESSIONS @ ZOOM: CAREER PATHWAYS (POSSIBILITIES) FOR RESEARCH MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION PROFESSIONALS IN AUSTRALIA: A YEAR PILOT STUDY |
Thank you to Dr Olumide Odeyemi and Ed Benyon for Presenting and Facilitating our February PD Session @ Zoom!
Did you miss out on this PD Sessions @ Zoom? Catch up here!
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CONFERENCE & EVENTS UPDATES |
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| INTERESTED IN GAINING EXPOSURE FOR YOUR ORGANISATION? SPONSOR AN UPCOMING ARMS CONFERENCE! |
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| ARMS 2023 SYDNEY CONFERENCE: CALL FOR ABSTRACTS ARMS is calling for abstract submissions to be delivered during our 2023 conference to be held in-person in Sydney, Australia!
We encourage you to contribute to the conference program by submitting an abstract which aligns with any of the sub-themes. Pre-Conference Workshops - Close Monday 6 March 2023
Oral & Poster Presentations - Close Monday 17 April 2023 For more information, including the abstract theme and sub-themes, please press the button below. |
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EARLY NOTIFICATION
Members to be advised that the Society will soon announce the return of its annual Chapter Travel Awards. These are awards that provide financial assistance to eligible ARMS members wishing to attend the annual conference. The call will open on Monday, the 3rd of April. Visit the website for full details. |
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| AEN 2023 CONFERENCE: SPEAKER CONFIRMED
Have you heard that Associate Professor Angela Ballantyne has been confirmed as a Keynote speaker for our 2023 AEN Conference? Don't miss her Keynote Session being presented in Melbourne, Australia!
Early bird registrations, full conference registrations and day only registrations are currently available. Don't miss the 2023 welcome reception! Network with fellow Research Ethics Professionals, and reconnect with your fellow delegates. |
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CHAPTER & SIG UPDATES/EVENTS |
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| NSW CHAPTER EVENT: INTERNATIONAL PROJECT COLLABORATIONS: BUILDING A RISK AWARENESS CULTURE FOR COUNTERING FOREIGN INTERFERENCE |
Please join us in person, or online, for the NSW Chapter’s upcoming session on foreign interference. Hosted by Western Sydney University in their fantastic Parramatta City campus, the event will be an informative discourse on the impact of foreign interference in the higher education sector. |
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The impressive line-up of speakers include Mr. Anthony Coles, Deputy Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator, Department of Home Affairs, and interstate and local experts working in this area of national significance. Speakers details are listed on the registration page.
The event will be addressing government’s concerns and highlighting the risks that may be associated while working with foreign partners. This will build the understanding of research management professionals, staff and academics around maintaining a risk awareness culture, maintaining the integrity of universities and international projects, and minimising the impact of foreign interference on staff and student safety. Our experts will share their observations on the challenges, due-diligence and best practices in the Australian higher education sector to safeguard and strengthen the international research agenda in a changing and challenging climate.
Mingle afterwards over a light lunch on the 9th floor balcony – views to the city included. The event will be moderated by Professor Kevin Dunn, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), Western Sydney University.
When: Wednesday, 15 March 2023 Time: 9.30 am – 12.30 pm AEDT
Where: Western Sydney University - Parramatta City campus This event is also being delivered virtually via Zoom (Zoom link provided in the confirmation email). RSVP by Wednesday, 01 March 2023.
Please include questions to the panel when registering. |
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| SA CHAPTER: IN-PERSON EVENT |
The SA Chapter of ARMS is pleased to invite you to their morning tea and networking meeting at the University of Adelaide! Our ARMS President, Dr Tania Bezzobs is coming to Adelaide to talk about the national research environment; challenges and opportunities in research management and to hear from SA members about their needs for the next year in developing their research management careers. |
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There will be a panel of research managers sharing their stories about career development, research management journey and their experiences. Join us afterwards for morning tea!
When: Friday, 17 March 2023 Time: 9.30 am – 11am ACDT Where: The University of Adelaide - Room details provided in the confirmation email.
Registrations close 10 March 2023. |
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| WA CHAPTER EVENT: 2023 "KICK-OFF" BREAKFAST SUMMARY |
The ARMS WA chapter was delighted to share their kick-off breakfast event with attendees from across WA Universities and other research related organisations and providers. We asked that people sat near someone they didn’t know, to enhance the networking possibilities during the breakfast.
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It was exciting to hear that people are energetic and ready for the challenges ahead in 2023!
The WA Chapter Committee looks forward to seeing continued support at future events during the year! |
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| INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS SIG
We’re setting up an exciting program of events for the year and we’d love to hear from you! New members to the SIG are very welcome; whether you’re actively working in the international research space or simply hold an interest in this important area. Our first meeting for the year will be an online coffee networking session to allow members to meet, share their inputs around what would be useful future topics for the SIG, and to hear more from the co-convenors about what is planned and how to get involved.
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Join us on Tuesday 28 March 2023 at 12pm (AEDT Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne).
Learn more about the International Research Collaboration SIG Co-convenors: Jace Carson (Strategic Projects Consultant, Uni of Canterbury) and Suzanne Austin (Strategic Research Engagement Manager, UNSW) |
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| RESEARCH IMPACT SIG: MONTHLY NETWORKING SESSIONS |
The ARMS Research Impact Special Interest Group (RI-SIG) is delighted to announce the return of its monthly networking sessions for 2023. These networking sessions will be an opportunity to discuss current issues and opportunities related to research impact. Each month we have a discussion topic to loosely frame the conversation (often with a guest speaker), with an aim for our community to meet and share ideas. |
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The networking meetings will be held on the last Thursday of the month at 12-1pm AEDT/AEST.
Make sure to check our website each month for the registration page. |
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UP IN ARMS NEWSLETTER - 2023 SCHEDULE If you would like to contribute content, please note the deadlines below.
All enquiries about newsletter content can be directed to ARMS COO, Maria Zollo, at ARMSCOO@researchmanagement.org.au. |
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ARMS acknowledges the generous support of our corporate partners: |
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ARMS EXECUTIVE OFFICE CONTACTS |
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