© Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa( CARTA) & University of Nairobi( UoN)
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But the challenge of maintaining the research infrastructure remains. Utilities must be paid for by universities Use of labs / Equipment can be paid for by researchers from their grants( token service charge); one lab being used as corporate; replenishing – change of managing practices for research infrastructure. Solutions to maintain infrastructure is through researchers continually attracting research grants that then sustain them.
There is a challenge of staff allocating time to research, besides classroom teaching loads and clinical areas. It is not yet a policy but staff can negotiate for 50 % time off to conduct research.
Computer based research and software are another actual need in the research environment that is a current challenge. But universities should be accountable enough not to buy the same equipment in different grant applications. – It is an accountability issue that arises often in individual based grants
Universities should still promote research internally and have in place internal committees to evaluate research. A set of Accountability criteria must therefore be put in place to make universities investor worthy.
• Universities must assign money for Research in the budget and carry out competitive internal research grant writing;
• M & E on Supervision is critical- who is a supervisor? How long should a PhD last;
• Robust staff development Programs are necessary- Absorption of Highly trained PhDs within the University students; staff development plans and programs. o What is the university doing to retain great PhD graduates who are sufficiently excited? A policy framework is put in place – if not supervising, publishing and raising grants you can expect your job to be reviewed. o CARTA should take note of emerging best practices within different consortium partners to the rest of partner institutions.
• New management of research infrastructure, labs, equipment and software – should be corporate licenced and property of university; entrenched in grant applications
• Training researchers and managers on supervision and research management. o Research management units e. g. Wits research management unit o University of Nairobi is setting up an independent body that manages research. These bodies must be entrenched within the universities
• Transparency in procurement policies should increase. It is an accountability issue. o Government systems are too complex for grants, are slower, o A specialised unit may hasten the time for procurement
• Center of excellence can improve research capacity and management. o Funding road maps – e. g. Grand challenges has 6m dollars to LMIC but only 1 comes from the university! There are competitors from private sector, not for profit organisations, etc. o Institutional roadmaps are important
• Using research to teach graduate and post graduate students – e. g. the MEPI program how much of research generated within African institutions is being used to teach graduate and post graduate research students?( Khisa)
• Remark- The CARTA consortia may be more attractive to partners than if single institution bids are put in( Lawson)
• Most scientists want to be global scientists and CARTA provides that opportunity.
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CARTA’ s 2 nd Vice Chancellor’ s Meeting – Report of meeting proceedings – July 10-11, 2017