ARMA Conference 2010
Making an Impact
8/9th June 2010, The Midland Hotel, Manchester
As research managers gear up for the REF show rolling into town, and the government is looking for additional economic contributions from research, the ARMA 2010 conference theme is exploring the effect of the impact agenda on research managers across the board. What will it mean for us, and how can we support the achievement and illustration of an area so deeply embedded in academic endeavour?
The 2010 annual conference will take place at the Midland Hotel in central Manchester on 8th and 9th June.
The event is an opportunity for research managers and administrators to meet major funders and policy makers, as well as each other, to discuss and debate this year's theme of Impact and also the wider challenges facing us all.
With more than thirty sessions/workshops to choose from, the range of topics will span the needs of everyone - from those new to the research support profession through to the most experienced managers.
In addition to a thought-provoking programme, the ARMA Conference offers colleagues a chance to network and build career-enhancing relationships, as well as the opportunity to meet professional providers of services to the research community in the exhibition area.
As usual, we will offer three pre-conference events on Monday 7th June:
- Fundamentals of Research Administration
- a half-day Expert Seminar entitled "Impact Developments" and
- an Executive Forum
Please note that these events must be booked/invoiced separately from the conference.
Target Audience
The 2010 Conference offers sessions designed to appeal to research managers and administrators at all levels of experience - whether involved in strategic issues, working in specific areas or across a wide range of activities.
Newcomers to research administration may also be interested in our pre-conference one-day course "The Fundamentals of Research Administration" on Monday June 7th and in the conference sessions offered by major funding agencies - which provide an overview of their work and funding programmes. Senior members of the profession may join the Executive Forum meeting, also part of the pre-conference programme (this event is now fully subscribed). An Expert Seminar entitled "Impact Development" takes place during the afternoon of June 7th.
Presenters
Plenary One: "Brace for Impact"
Professor Julia Goodfellow,CBE Vice-Chancellor, University of Kent
Dr James Wilsdon, Director of the Science Policy Centre at the Royal Society
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, DBE, FRS Deputy President & Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Manchester
Professor Nick Petford, Pro Vice Chancellor (Research & Enterprise), Bournemouth University, speaking on behalf of University Alliance
Please see the list of parallel sessions.
Poster Exhibition
For the fourth successive year, the ARMA Conference 2010 will include a poster presentation exhibition (opening at 18:30 on Monday 7th June in the Derby/Chester Suite and then throughout the conference in the Alexandra Suite) to showcase research management/administrative activities, new developments in our sector and share best practice with a wide community of conference delegates. If you have successfully entered a poster, this will provide you with an exciting chance to publicise your ideas to new audiences and to make useful contacts - as well as the opportunity to be awarded the Conference Poster Prize.
Application Procedure:
Poster submission has closed for this year's conference (the closing date was 31st March), and applications have been assessed on their merit and suitability by a small panel of ARMA Board members.
Successful applicants have been invited to produce and subsequently present their posters on Monday 7th June 2009 (early evening). This will coincide with the reception for newcomers.
If you have missed the deadline for the 2010 conference, maybe you would like to try next year? Here is a note of encouragement from the Call for Posters Co-ordinator, Anna Harding:
"I produced a poster for the ARMA Conference 2008 and can thoroughly recommend taking part. I felt a sense of achievement, and by taking part it allowed me to do something a little different from my usual day-to-day work responsibilities. In addition, I produced my poster with a colleague from another department which enabled us to combine our skills and to get to know each other better. Posters can be designed using Microsoft PowerPoint and Higher Education Institutions will usually have facilities to print/laminate and package the poster for you at a fairly reasonable price.
Last year I was present at the conference poster launch on a beautiful summer's day in Southampton. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet poster presenters (we had ten posters) and raise a glass to a successful conference with ARMA Board members, conference sponsors and delegates".
Volunteers required!
How would you like to help with the smooth running of the Conference? Whether this is your first time, or you're an experienced attendee, volunteering is a great way to help the organisers and meet other members.
There are a range of opportunities for volunteers, including working on the registration desk or in the conference office and/or acting as a room monitor. Room monitors are responsible for liaising with their session speaker(s) and the session chair (if there is one) and for helping 'lost' delegates (making sure attendees are in the right session). The role includes timing the session so it doesn't overrun and sorting out room problems.
Volunteers will be able to attend all their pre-booked parallel sessions, but must agree in advance of the conference which session(s) they will monitor. As a monitor, you will be relied on to attend the session(s) to which you commit. Full details will be sent to you when you volunteer, and there will be a briefing on the day.
If you are interested in volunteering, please email Linda Parker. Go on, give it a try!
Programme
Price
Venue
Travel
Queries
Booking
Venue and Travel
The Midland Hotel is a historic landmark in central Manchester and one of the city's most prestigious hotels, situated in the heart of the city.
The hotel has played its part in local history as the location of the first meeting between Mr Rolls and Mr Royce, leading to the creation of the famous car company. The Midland combines decadent glamour with 21st century sophistication and offers 312 comfortable bedrooms. Ideally located near to the shopping district and close to local transport links, the Midland is a ten mile journey from Manchester airport.
There is a fully equipped leisure club, squash court, swimming pool, hairdressing salon, beauty salon and two restaurants.
Delegates are responsible for booking their own hotel accommodation. Please note that all the accommodation we reserved for delegates at the Midland Hotel has now been taken up. Nearby hotels are Jurys and Premier Travel Inn.
Delegates can travel by tram to St Peter's Square, walk down the ramp towards the Midland but turn right onto Oxford Street before crossing the main road.
Travel:
By rail: Typical journey times to Manchester Piccadilly are:
- Edinburgh 3 hrs 30 mins-4 hrs 30 mins
- London Euston 2 hrs 10 mins
- Newcastle 2 hrs 35 mins
- Bristol 3 hrs
The Midland Hotel is five minutes by taxi from Manchester Piccadilly railway station.
Trams: St Peter's Square (trams marked Altrincham)
By air: Manchester Airport offers flights to many destinations in the UK and Europe. http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf#70
Manchester Airport is well served by a network of local and regional buses running daily from early morning to late at night, including weekends and bank holidays (Stagecoach numbers 43 and 105). The journey time is approximately an hour. If you're using the bus to get around Greater Manchester (more than one journey in a day) then an 'any bus DaySaver' is the cheapest ticket to buy.
Or you can reach the city centre by train from the airport station : http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/All+Content/RailNetworkMaps
A ticket purchased at the airport train station allows you to use the connecting tram (destination Altrincham or Eccles) to St Peter's Square (conference venue tram stop) without extra charge. You can board either the Transpennine Express or the local train.
Directions to the conference venue
What to do and see in Manchester
Price
| ARMA members |
£395 |
| Non-members |
£462 |
We are pleased to inform you that the ARMA Conference fees have been held for the third consecutive year!
The higher rate for non-members includes annual membership of ARMA for the period until 31st March 2011. For tax reasons, ARMA events are open only to paid-up members. So if you are not yet a member, you will be able to join in the course of making your booking.
If you are already a member, you will be required to use your membership number/password to log in before booking.
Please raise your invoice immediately after booking to confirm your place. Payment may be made online by credit card, by BACS or cheque.
Please read our Terms & Conditions before registering and note our substitution policy.
Non-members: if you are booking for more than one event, naturally the non-member supplement will be payable only once.
Fees include lunches, refreshments and the gala dinner on Tuesday 8th June (including wine, entertainment and pre-dinner drinks reception) but not hotel accommodation.
A limited number of day-delegate places are available for either 8th or 9th June at £200 per person per day. Please contact Rosemary for a special booking code. This rate does not include attendance at the conference dinner (which can be paid for separately if requested).
The price for additional guests/partners attending the conference dinner will be £50 per head, which includes pre-dinner drinks reception, wine and entertainment. Places cannot be booked online but must be booked in advance - so please contact Jenny if you wish to bring a guest.
Members of ARMA Groups wishing to register for the conference after April 1st 2010 should first contact their group co-ordinator to check that the group invoice has been raised, in order to avoid full-rate membership fees being added automatically to their invoice. Places can be reserved, meanwhile.
After booking please raise your invoice in My Ledger to confirm your place. Payments can be made online by credit card.
Queries
- The contact for general queries is Rosemary Hatch
- For queries related to the conference programme, please contact Ian Carter
Dress Code
We know that first-time delegates may be uncertain about dress code for the conference. We'd like you to feel comfortable while you are in the sessions, so we advise 'smart casual' or 'business casual'. We also know that some of you may wish to wear something smarter - so please make your own choice about whether to bring a suit. However, most people do generally dress up for the conference dinner.
Booking
Online booking is open now. Please remember to log in if you are already an ARMA member.
