Over the past few months, the University of Coimbra team, leading WP3 (Pilot Testing), has continued to build momentum for the RM Framework project. Their work reflects not only the project’s expanding reach, but also the growing attention and initiative it has been receiving from the Research Management community in Portugal.
Showcasing RM Framework at the 1st SciGestPT National Conference
This increased visibility was marked by an invitation to present at the 1st National Conference of the Portuguese Association for Science Management – SciGestPT, held at the University of Aveiro in October. As a newly established national platform, SciGestPT brings together research management professionals to highlight the strategic role they play in enabling research, innovation, and institutional impact. The event convened not only the professional community but also institutional leaders and policy makers, providing an excellent opportunity to introduce RM Framework to key national stakeholders.
Bringing Research Support to the Public: European Researchers’ Night
The team also leveraged public engagement opportunities. In September, the project partnered with NAE-UC (The Strategic Areas Unit / Pre-award Office of the University of Coimbra) to offer a “behind-the-scenes” look at research support during the European Researchers’ Night activities in Coimbra. This collaboration helped the general public better understand the vital—yet often invisible—work that underpins research impact and institutional excellence.
Highlighting RM Training at the Ibero-American Congress
Most recently, in November, RM Framework was presented at the 3rd Ibero-American Congress on Quality Education and Competence Development, hosted by the University of Porto. The selected talk, “RM Framework: Pilot-testing a European framework for Research Management training and networking”, addressed educators and mentors, highlighting how RM-focused training contributes to capacity building and skills development across higher education institutions.
Strengthening Stakeholder Engagement and Visibility
Across all these interactions, the shared objective remains clear: to strengthen stakeholder engagement, raise RM Framework’s visibility in Portugal, involve the local Research Management community, and foster discussions that advance professional recognition and policy impact for the field.
Upcoming Podcast Episode
In January, the fifth episode of the RM Framework podcast will feature Marcos Gomes and João Ramalho-Santos from Coimbra, who will present the pilot-testing process and its significance within the project — so stay tuned, and in the meantime explore the previous episodes on The Grant channel: RM Framework Podcast Series.