Research Management in the English-Speaking Caribbean: Preliminary Results on Practitioner Profiles, Roles, and Professionalisation

What is new? This research study represents the first empirical investigation of Research Management and Administration (RMA) practitioners in the English-speaking Caribbean. It provides a baseline profile of the demographic, educational and occupational characteristics of research managers in the region, and presents evidence of the development of a professional class of research management practitioners within Caribbean research systems. What was the approach? A cross-sectional descriptive survey was used to map the research management population in the English-speaking Caribbean. As the first phase of a multi-phase regional investigation, the survey examined the demographics of the practitioners, the characteristics of work, their organisational contexts, and the extent of professionalisation within the field. What is the academic impact? The results indicate a highly educated workforce with 94.3% of respondents holding a postgraduate qualification and 68.5% working within higher education institutions. Furthermore, the findings present early empirical evidence to the RMA scholarship by not only helping to identify workforce characteristics, but also outlining the priorities for professionalisation, competency development, leadership, and career advancement. What is the wider impact? The results may also prove helpful for workforce planning, professional development and succession planning within the institutions as well as for the development of a clear career path for research management professionals. Additionally, they provide evidence to support the professionalisation agenda of the Caribbean Research and Innovation Management Association (CabRIMA) at the regional level, while considering the resources available within Caribbean institutions.