RM Professional Development Mapping
Context
Between April 2023 and July 2024, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa conducted a comprehensive online mapping to collect data on the professional development opportunities available to Research Managers (RMs) across Europe. This study aimed to identify existing training, mobility, networking, funding, and RM network opportunities, providing a structured overview of the landscape while highlighting key gaps and challenges in RM professionalisation.
The data was collected through a multi-source approach, ensuring a broad and representative mapping of opportunities. The key sources included:
● Direct contributions from stakeholders, including institutions that provide RM-related professional development opportunities.
● The RM ROADMAP ambassador network, which facilitated outreach and data collection across multiple European countries.
● Desk research, incorporating official institutional reports, existing databases, and direct contact with organisations offering RM opportunities.
Table of Contents
1: Main outputs of the RM Professional Development Mapping
A total of 335 professional development opportunities for Research Managers (RMs) across 39 European countries have been mapped, creating a comprehensive overview of training, networking, mobility, and funding opportunities in the field, allowing RMs and institutions to easily explore and leverage existing opportunities:
The RM Roadmap PDF catalogue provides a detailed overview of each opportunity and a broader analysis of the professional development landscape.
The interactive online dashboard, developed in collaboration with the CARDEA project, offers a user-friendly and dynamic way to explore the data.
A comprehensive report, including trend insights and gap analysis, is available on the RM ROADMAP website as Deliverable 2.2.
The fully anonymized database is publicly available on Figshare, supporting further analysis and research
2: Overview of Professional Development Opportunities for RM
A total of 335 professional development opportunities were mapped across 39 European countries.
● Training activities dominate the landscape (51.04% of all opportunities), reinforcing the profession’s strong focus on skill development.
● RM Networks account for 30.15% of opportunities, playing a crucial role in community-building and knowledge-sharing. Countries like Italy, Spain, Belgium, France, the UK, and Germany have a strong presence of RM networks, which are often linked to training initiatives.
● Networking activities account for 12.84% of the mapped opportunities, offering Research Managers key spaces for peer exchange, collaboration, and professional growth. Conferences, workshops, and structured networking events facilitate the sharing of best practices and career development.
● Mobility opportunities are severely underrepresented (2.69%), limiting cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange. Only a few countries (e.g., Switzerland, Poland, Malta) offer structured mobility programs, with most RMs relying on institutional or external funding.
● Funding opportunities (3.28%) are limited and unevenly distributed, with only a few national schemes (e.g., Albania, Croatia and Italy) and EU initiatives (e.g., Erasmus+, Horizon Europe) providing support for RM professional development.
3: Training and Networking – The Backbone of RM Professional Development
Training represents the largest share of professional development opportunities for RM, accounting for 51.04% (n=171) of all mapped initiatives. This strong focus reflects the increasing demand for capacity-building, skill enhancement, and knowledge acquisition in the field.
● Diversity of Formats: Training is delivered in multiple formats, ranging from short-term workshops to long-term accredited programs. Short-term training (less than one week) is the most common (102 programs), while long-term programs (over six months) are less frequent (40 programs).
● Accreditation and Recognition: 85 programs issue certificates of participation, while only 15 programs offer degrees with ECTS credits, and 4 programs provide professional accreditation. This suggests a need for further formalisation of RM career pathways.
● Integration with RM Networks: A significant number of training programs (n=174) are directly linked to RM networks, reinforcing the role of professional associations in delivering and supporting training
4: Professional Development by Career Stage
97.7% of the training opportunities (n=167) target all career stages.
While broad accessibility is beneficial, overly generalistic programs may fail to address the specific skill development needs of mid-career and senior RMs, limiting their ability to transition into leadership roles effectively.
● RM1 (Early-career) – 12 programs target foundational training.
● RM2 (Mid-career) – 16 programs mostly focused on collaboration.
● RM3 (Established RMs) – Only 2 training activities are exclusively available for Established RMs, highlighting a critical gap in leadership and strategic management training.
● RM4 (Senior RMs) – Only 1 training activity specifically for senior RMs. Without specialised training, senior RMs may struggle to develop strategic oversight and policy-shaping capabilities, impacting the advancement of the profession as a whole
The publication of RMComp by the European Commission provides an opportunity to establish a competency-based framework for research management training. Aligning professional development programs with this framework can enhance career mobility, skill specialization, and leadership readiness.
5: Cost of Professional Development Opportunities
69.23% of professional development opportunities require payment, creating financial barriers, particularly for RMs in underfunded institutions.
Training activities are the most expensive, with costs varying widely based on format and duration:
● Short-term workshops: Typically range from €50 to €500 per session.
● Mid-range courses (multi-day or in-person training): €1,100 to €4,350.
● Accredited degree programs: €250 to €15,000 per year.
● Executive and high-level certifications: Can exceed €20,000, reaching up to €25,300 for EEA students.
Affordability & Accessibility:
● 62.22% of networking opportunities are free, making them key enablers for RM community-building.
● Membership fees for RM networks range from €20 to €200 per year, but additional costs may apply for exclusive events and specialised activities
6: Emerging RM Opportunities Across Europe
RM training courses and networking opportunities have expanded notably over the past decade, with steady growth continuing in recent years:
● 10 new RM networks were established in the last five years (2019-2023), demonstrating the ongoing growth of RM professionalisation, particularly in Central Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
● Approximately 25% of recorded RM training programs were launched in 2021, highlighting a rapid response to emerging professional needs.
● 21 training programs were launched in 2024 alone, confirming the continuous expansion of RM professional development.
7: A Call for Action: Strengthening RM Professional Development in Europe
The RM-ROADMAP project highlights significant progress in expanding RM professional development, yet persistent challenges remain. To build a stronger, well-connected, and professionalised RM community across Europe, the following actions are needed:
1. Expand funding for RM training and mobility opportunities, particularly for long-duration, accredited programs and international exchanges.
2. Strengthen RM networks as career development actors, ensuring they have financial and institutional support to sustain training and networking activities.
3. Increase European and international-level opportunities, particularly in structured training and mobility schemes, to foster cross-border professionalisation.
4. Address career stage-specific gaps, developing tailored programs that support mid-career and senior RM professionals in leadership and strategic management.
5. Ensure equitable access to professional development, particularly for Research Managers in underrepresented communities, by reducing financial barriers and increasing outreach efforts.
Oliveira, Cristina Isabel; Dias, Fatima; Varela, Carolina; Hourmat, Bernardo; Carrapato, Ana; Trindade, Margarida; et al. (2024). RM-Roadmap: Professional Development Opportunities (Data Collected Through Mapping Exercise - anonymised). figshare. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.27094096.v2