As part of the EUTOPIA_HEALTH initiative, NOVA University Lisbon hosted a three-day training programme dedicated to a critical but often overlooked topic: how research managers can drive institutional excellence. This intensive workshop brought together research support professionals across NOVA to explore their evolving roles in the full research lifecycle—from project design and grant applications to ethics, implementation, and dissemination. It focused on cross-departmental collaboration, strategic alignment, and professional identity development for research managers.
In this video, four key contributors reflect on the goals, methods, and impact of the training:
- Margarida Trindade (Head of Science and Funding Office – ITQB NOVA (Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier) highlights how the programme was designed not only to improve institutional performance but also to support individual career growth. Research managers, she argues, play a vital role in translating strategy into everyday practice—and must be empowered to lead, even without formal authority.
- Cristina Oliveira (Executive Manager of MagIC (Information Management Research Center)- NOVA IMS (Information Management School) explains how the training moved between institutional and individual perspectives, encouraging participants to understand both the broader ecosystem and their unique role within it. She emphasizes the importance of shared reflection, connection, and time to think beyond day-to-day tasks.
- Francisca Fonseca (Project Manager – NOVA) discusses how participants engaged in pre-training mapping exercises to identify their challenges and positioning within the university. This grounding enabled targeted, meaningful peer exchange and culminated in actionable improvement plans for NOVA and the broader EUTOPIA alliance.
- Beatriz Fernández (Coordinator of the Pre-Award Office – NOVA Medical School) speaks to the broader impact of research management on institutional excellence and the research ecosystem. She reminds us that the invisible, cross-functional work of research managers is foundational to creating value and coherence in academic environments.
A standout element was the scenario-based role play, where participants practiced navigating real-life challenges, managing competing demands, and identifying friction points—gaining both tactical skills and strategic perspective. The lessons learned will now inform future EUTOPIA_HEALTH activities and be shared across the alliance, with the next training taking place at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
