Image: Chris Parr for Research Professional News
Arma 2024: association chair Lorna Wilson also calls for greater recognition of research manager role
The chair of the Association of Research Managers and Administrators has urged the next UK government to continue ongoing work to reduce bureaucracy in research.
Speaking to Research Professional News at Arma’s 2024 annual conference in Brighton, Lorna Wilson said she hoped whichever party comes to power after next month’s general election looks at issues relating to both bureaucracy and research security.
Work following the current government’s review of bureaucracy was paused while Westminster was “shifting”, she said, adding that she and Arma were “hopeful” that the work would continue.
She added that there were “huge opportunities” around funding assurance. “Assurance has proliferated in recent years in terms of the expectations placed on us and how we spend money," Wilson said.
“Absolutely we need accountability when spending public money, but things have gotten completely out of hand, in certain ways. That’s quite a strong thing to say, but I don’t think my colleagues would disagree.”
In her address to the 2024 conference, Wilson said Arma’s priority was getting “recognition of our profession and the expertise that we offer”.
“Without research managers you don’t have research, and it is really important that our contributions are recognised,” she said.
A version of this article also appeared in Research Fortnight