Publication
ARMA Research Office Survey 2020: Benchmarking UK Institutional Research Offices
This report summarises the findings of a study that has examined and benchmarked the structure of research offices at 54 UK higher education institutions.
What is it about?
This page summarises the findings of a study that has examined and benchmarked the structure of research offices at 54 UK higher education institutions (HEIs), representing around one third of UK HEIs. The survey captured the roles, remits and salary brackets of over 2,000 full-time equivalent research support staff, alongside insights into typical research office structures, trends and challenges, and key performance indicators (KPIs) within these professional service functions.
Why is it important?
The UK’s higher education system faces unprecedented challenges. This exercise provides a detailed evidence base designed to support strategic decision-making by directors and senior managers within UK research offices. Our findings will also be of value to a wide range of other stakeholders with an interest in the development of effective research support structures.
Perspectives
Our survey was designed to understand the challenges and opportunities emerging across the ever-evolving landscape of the research management profession. The evidence collected provides a useful benchmark of the landscape of UK research offices in both pre- and post-COVID-19 contexts. We hope that this proves to be a useful resource for stakeholders across the sector.
