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 explored 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 took place at the Midland Hotel in central Manchester on 8th and 9th June. See the Conference Posters!
The event was 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 spanned 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 offered pre-conference events on Monday 7th June:
- Fundamentals of Research Administration
- a half-day Expert Seminar entitled "Impact Developments" and
- an Executive Forum
Target Audience
The 2010 Conference offered 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.
Especially for newcomers to research administration was our pre-conference one-day course "The Fundamentals of Research Administration" on Monday June 7th, and the conference sessions offered by major funding agencies -which provided an overview of their work and funding programmes. Senior members of the profession had the opportunity to join the Executive Forum meeting, also part of the pre-conference programme. Finally, there was an Expert Seminar entitled "Impact Development" which took 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.
For the fourth successive year, the ARMA Conference 2010 included a poster presentation exhibition to showcase research management/administrative activities, new developments in our sector and share best practice with a wide community of conference delegates. For the successful entrants it provided them with an exciting chance to publicise their ideas to new audiences and to make useful contacts. Congratulations to the winners of the Conference Poster Prize - Susan Mitchell, Gwen Averley and Johanna Gascoigne-Owens all from the University of Newcastle.
If you missed the poster submission 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 it is your first time, or you're an experienced attendee, volunteering is a great way to help the organisers and meet other members.
There is 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 are always able to attend all their pre-booked parallel sessions, but must agree in advance of the conference which session(s) they will monitor. Monitors are relied on to attend the session(s) to which they commit.
If you are interested in volunteering, look out for the details of the 2011 Conference on this website.
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.
Price
| ARMA members |
£395 |
| Non-members |
£462 |
The good news is that the ARMA Conference fees were held for the third consecutive year!
The higher rate for non-members included 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 anyone were not yet a member, they were able to join in the course of making their booking.
Fees included lunches, refreshments and the gala dinner on Tuesday 8th June (including wine, entertainment and pre-dinner drinks reception) but not hotel accommodation.
Queries
- The contact for general queries is Rosemary Hatch
- For queries related to the conference programme, please contact Ian Carter
Booking
