Introducing the Research Administration Modernization Project (RAMP)

The Research Administration Modernization Project (RAMP) is a newly-announced joint partnership between the Office of Strategic Transformation and Delivery (OSTAD) and Office of the Vice-President, Research (VPR). RAMP is focused on improving the researcher experience by clearly mapping support available via research administration services, processes and roles across the U of A’s distributed research ecosystem. 

The initial phase of RAMP will focus on establishing clarity on who does what throughout the research life cycle from the researcher's perspective. This phase will not change structures, redesign processes or introduce new systems. This work will support development of two key items:

• A framework that documents who supports key activities throughout the research lifecycle
  
  
• An Insights & Opportunities report that synthesizes what the university community tells us about today's research administration experience and identifies opportunities for future improvement

RAMP builds on work to-date to strengthen research administration and improve services that support our research community. Critically, it expands engagement on and mapping of research administration to colleges, faculties and institutional partners to better reflect the lived experience of researchers and those who support them. 

Feedback from the university community is critical to mapping the current state of the U of A research administration ecosystem. Communications will be shared with the university community introducing RAMP and highlighting the consultation that will take place across the university to generate the current-state map of research administration. 

In the months ahead, the RAMP team will engage stakeholder groups across the university community in a phased approach. These will include Office of the Vice President, Research (VPR) services and supports, colleges, faculty research offices and their administrative supports, shared services and partners, and directly with researchers and their research teams. 

Together, we can create a better researcher experience by improving clarity of the services, processes and roles available to support them.

If you have any questions about this initiative, please contact Ami Dykstra, Senior Project Manager for RAMP at asdykstr@ualberta.ca.