What happens when a European-wide training framework meets real classrooms, real trainers, and real institutional constraints? Episode 5 of the RM Framework Podcast dives into pilot testing – the project’s “central engine” for turning an ambitious handbook into a tool that actually works in practice.
In this episode, Marcos Gomes, Research and Innovation Manager at the University of Coimbra, explains why the consortium made pilot testing a core activity rather than a late-stage tick-box exercise. Co-leading Work Package 3, he outlines how the RM Framework builds on earlier initiatives such as RM Roadmap and RMcomp – but goes a decisive step further. Mapping needs and competences is only the beginning; ensuring that a handbook is interoperable, clear, and adaptable across Europe requires testing it in real training design and delivery contexts.
The conversation then zooms in on how pilot testing works on the ground. A deliberately diverse first wave of pilot testers includes three universities – the Technical University of Madrid, Corvinus University of Budapest, and University of Milano-Bicocca – alongside a regional funding agency in Catalonia and a professional association, NARMA (Norwegian Network for Administration and Research Management). Together, they span pre- and post-award management, research infrastructures, innovation and business development, open science, and data stewardship, covering career stages from junior staff to senior leaders.
Rather than reshaping their courses to fit the handbook, pilot testers use it to “rebuild” existing programmes on paper. With the support of structured prompts and learning diaries, they document what works, where ambiguities appear, and which elements need adaptation to local or national contexts. Follow-up discussions then feed these insights back into the framework. The result is not compliance, but learning – and a handbook that evolves with its users.
At its core, Episode 5 explores the balance between standardisation and flexibility. Pilot testing acts as a reality check, ensuring the RM Framework can offer a shared European language for research management careers while still respecting local nuance. The goal is a living, community-validated handbook – built with training providers and trainees, not just for them.
Listen to Episode 5 now: https://www.thegrant.eu/rm5
Explore the full RM Framework Podcast Series: https://www.thegrant.eu/rm-framework