FAQs

If you are new to ARMS:

Please visit the membership page. Scroll down to the page's bottom and select Is your business already a member? highlighted within the grey box at the page's conclusion. This process involves two steps: first, create a User Account, and second, link the User Account to your employer's corporate account.

If you have previously created an ARMS User Account (non-member):

Having already set up a User (non-member) Account, you can promptly associate it with your business by logging into your portal and submitting a request to link it to your employer's corporate membership..

Please note:

Approval for your membership under your employer's corporate membership is required from the corporate lead of the institution. Once approved, you will gain access to the membership benefits of the corporate member.

If you have any questions or are unsure if you have a User Account, please contact ARMSMembership@researchmanagement.org.au.

On the home page go to the member login in the top right corner and enter your username and password.

ARMS developed this program to support and train people working in research administration and management. This program provides a series of training modules that cover many of the basic areas of research administration and management to provide a foundation level of knowledge.

The Foundation Level of Accreditation Program currently includes twenty (20) modules with more under development. 

The Foundation Level Accreditation Program (FLAP) gives you the opportunity to gain knowledge in new areas of research management outside of your previous experience, to network with your colleagues and to stay up to date on the rapidly changing field of research administration. It’s also a way to get formal recognition of the skills and experience you have cultivated throughout your career.

If you are a mid to senior level research mangement professional who has worked in the sector for 5 or more years or a senior academic/professional staff member entering a senior research management role you might be interested in the Established Level Accreditation Program.

There are three (3) key requirements in becoming accredited as an ARMS Accredited Research Manager (Foundation) - ARM(F):

1. Participation in five (5) module presentations delivered either face to face, via a virtual meeting platform or through a complete online learning program (LMS). Three (3) modules are compulsory (online) and participants are required to select two (2) electives of their interest. See Modules for more information;
2. Successful completion (minimum grade of 75%) of a multiple-choice assessment for each of the five (5) modules within two weeks of attending a workshop or completing an online module; and
3. Successful completion of a case study assessment.

To maintain accreditation, you must complete 60 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) every three years following your accreditation.

Please get in touch! If you are unable to complete all program elements before the deadline due to illness, parental leave, secondment, unemployment, etc, your individual circumstances will be considered. 

Every attempt is made to ensure participants are not disadvantaged.  For example, the three-year period for completing modules will be extended for people working part-time (less than 1.0 FTE).

Compulsory modules are open for registration at any time.

Elective modules are arranged as virtual meetings, typically taking place between May and November.

Details regarding the scheduled delivery of both compulsory and elective modules can be accessed on our website.

A list of all confirmed upcoming modules can be viewed on our Accreditation Modules page. Additional modules, including any new modules, may be added as required, or when they become available.

Currently, ARMS has seven (7) compulsary modules available as complete online trainings.  These modules, listed below, may be started at any time as they are self-paced.

• Module 1.1-Aus: The National Research and Innovation System in Australia
• Module 1.1-NZ: The National Research and Innovation System in New Zealand
• Module 1.1-Sing: The National Research and Innovation System in Singapore
• Module 1.2-Aus: Legislation as it Affects Research in Australia
• Module 1.2-NZ: Legislation as it Affects Research in New Zealand
• Module 1.2:Sing: Legislation as it Affects Research in Singapore
• Module 1.3: Understanding Research and Researchers (all regions)

If you are an ARMS member you may receive emails about modules curently available for delivery. If you are not an ARMS member, please contact ARMS for information about upcoming modules and regularly check the ARMS website.

ARMS Members receive discounted registration fees so it’s worth considering becoming a member!

Modules are presented by Training Fellows. Training Fellows have been endorsed by the ARMS Accreditation Council to deliver material and train others in specific areas of research management.

ARMS Members:

Log-in to your member portal and navigate to the Accreditation Modules. You can choose to pay via credit card on the website, or request a tax invoice by contacting ARMSAccreditation@researchmangement.org.au. Please note that for online modules, you will not be able to access the module until the invoice has been paid.

Non-members:

If you are not an ARMS member, you may register online, but you will be charged at the non-member's price for the module(s). We strongly encourage you to consider becoming a member – not only do you save money on module registration fees, but you have access to the full range of ARMS member benefits.

Elective modules:

Yes. When you register for a face to face elective module module (delivered either in person by a facilitator or virtually via Zoom) you will be sent a confirmation email which contains a link to the module pre-reading material (Body of Knowledge).

Compulsory modules:

For all compulsory (online) modules (i.e. modules that are completed online via Moodle) there are no pre-reading requirements.

Yes and no!

Yes - Everyone undertaking the Foundation Level Accreditation Program must complete three (3) compulsory modules –The National Research and Innovation System in ... (specific to your country), Legislation as it Affects Research in ... (specific to your country) and Understanding Research and Researchers.

No - You can then choose your own two (2) remaining elective modules from a range of options that apply to your specialisation or interest in grants, ethics, data, HDR, etc.

If your circumstances change and you can’t attend a module workshop, you must contact us no later than 10 working days before the event. ARMS will refund the full registration fee minus any administrative fees.

If you cancel with less than 10 days’ notice you will not receive a refund, but you might like to nominate a proxy to attend the module workshop on your behalf. Contact us to let us know you won’t be able to attend.

Please note that compulsory online modules (1.1-Aus, 1.2-Aus and 1.3) have a cancellation policy specific to the delivery of modules via an online learning platform.  These online modules are non-cancellable and the registration fee is non-refundable. Please see the ARMS cancellation policy attached to the registration page of these online modules.

ARMS reserve the right to cancel, postpone or re-schedule courses and events if minimum numbers are not reached or for other unforeseen circumstances.

Please see the full Cancellation and Refund Policy for more information.

Multiple-choice assessments

The multiple-choice questions have been created by the developers of each module. The module developers are experts in their field. Multiple choice questions are reviewed annually or biennially by the Accreditation Council as part of the module review cycle.

Case study assessment

Your case study assessment will be reviewed by at least two senior research management professionals. These reviewers typically occupy director-level roles in research offices and similar units. Final case study results are endorsed by the Accreditation Council.

If you fail the case study assessment you will be offered a chance to re-sit the assessment in the next round. You’ll be advised that you may contact ARMS and arrange to discuss your case study and receive mentoring from the ARMS Accreditation Program Manager or delegate.

Multiple-choice assessment

You must complete the multiple-choice assessment within two (2) weeks of being sent the assessment link, or having started the online quiz.

Case study assessment

If eligible, you’ll be sent an invitation to join the upcoming assessment round with relevant dates and timeframes. Candidates are typically given three (3) weeks to complete the assessment (max 1500 words).

You can only change a claim in your CPD Diary before it has been approved by the CPD working party. Get in touch with us if you need to change a CPD claim that has already been approved and we will take care of it.

Foundation, Established and Advanced Accredited members must complete 60 hours of CPD over a three-year period to maintain their accreditation. At the end of each three-year period, your CPD balance returns to 0 hours and you must accrue another 60 hours. CPD activities should adhere to the guidelines below (see “What activities can I submit for CPD?”).

If you’re unable to complete 60 hours of CPD over a 3-year period due to a career break, you may be eligible for special dispensation (see “I’ve had a break in my career. What happens now?” ). Please contact us for further advice on your individual case.

You need to log-in to your ARMS portal, click CPD Diary on the left-hand side of the screen, and then click the Add CPD Diary Entry button at the top of the page. You should record your CPD Activity Name, Hours,  Accreditation type, a brief Description of the activity (this will be used to evaluate your claim) and the Activity Completion Date.

You must also upload supporting documentation as evidence of your claim if not an ARMS module, master class, elective or ARMS event (including PD Sessions @ Zoom). ARMS events that you register for via your member portal are automatically approved once your attendance is confirmed. For webinars and online meetings, your attendance is approved by your online login details (email).

Supporting documentation includes both:

1. A detailed description of the event which may be a brochure, agenda, or a copy of the training program.
2. Evidence that you attended the event. This can include an email confirmation from your line supervisor, a pdf certificate of attendance, formal confirmation of results, etc. 

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the way people maintain their Foundation, Established or Advanced Level Accreditation after completing the accreditation program. CPD ensures people:

• Maintain their knowledge;
• Develop and implement research management practices in their workplace;
• Develop their career; and
• Be an example or mentor to other research management professionals in their workplace.