EUTOPIA_HEALTH Research Managers Training Programme Held at NOVA University Lisbon

On 14-16 April 2025, NOVA University Lisbon hosted a three-day training programme for its research managers as part of the EUTOPIA_HEALTH initiative, on "advancing institution excellence".

Held at NOVA's Rectorate, the workshop brought together professionals across departments to map out how research management can more effectively support the full research life cycle—from project design to dissemination. The training was part of a broader effort under EUTOPIA_HEALTH to strengthen collaboration within the alliance and address funding and structural disparities in Widening countries: Portugal, Slovenia, and Romania. 
 
Ahead of the training programme, participants completed a mapping exercise to position themselves within their institution, reflect on internal and external collaborations, and identify daily challenges. This informed the structure of the sessions, allowing for targeted discussions and cross-functional peer exchange which focused on: 

• Aligning services with institutional missions
• Understanding key research processes
• Improving coordination between offices
• Defining and tracking common KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)

A key focus was improving coordination across all stages of the research process—from ideation to implementation to dissemination. In hands-on group work, participants mapped out how NOVA’s research support offices, including pre- and post-award teams, ethics committees, tech transfer, and communications units, could better collaborate to support researchers at each stage.

One of the most dynamic sessions involved scenario-based role-playing. Participants stepped into real-life cases to test their decision-making, identify friction points across departments, and practice how to manage conflicting priorities. These exercises revealed the often-overlooked leadership role research managers play—working across silos, solving problems, and translating institutional goals into practical action. The training also helped the group reflect on their professional identity and develop strategies to lead without formal authority.
 
The workshop gave NOVA’s research managers a set of tools to improve alignment, coordination, and strategic impact. These insights will now feed into future EUTOPIA_HEALTH activities and help guide the alliance’s collective work.

The next training session will be held at Babeș-Bolyai University, in Cluj, Romania.