DARMA board meetings, 2024

DARMA, the Danish Association of Research Managers and Administrators, plays a vital role in supporting and advocating for the research community in Denmark. They focus on networking, professional development, and careful financial management. The organization organizes various events and workshops and has special interest groups dedicated to specific areas of research management. They face challenges with streamlining internal processes and keeping SIG leaders engaged. They are committed to international engagement and have participated in activities such as a study tour to Brussels and providing feedback on the Botswana Statement. They take a thoughtful approach to embracing trends like artificial intelligence and are focused on adapting research management skills to thrive in an AI-driven world. They also engage in strategic planning for the future of the organization. Ever wonder what really goes on behind the scenes of Danish research? Well, get ready to find out. You've shared some internal meeting minutes from DARMA, that's the Danish Association of Research Managers and Administrators, and let me tell you, these aren't your typical boring meeting notes. What I find so fascinating about these minutes is they give us this, like, unique glimpse into the heartbeat of Danish research. Totally. We get to be flies on the wall, as Dharma discusses, like funding, international collaborations, and AI in research. We'll unpack all of that and more, but let's start with the basics. What exactly is DHARMA, and why should our listeners care about what they're up to? So, DHARMA is a professional organization for all those research managers and administrators in Denmark. They've got members from universities, institutions, all over the country, and they provide this vital platform for networking, for professional development, and advocating for the needs of the research community. It's like they're the backbone of the Danish research system. That's a great way to put it. They're the ones working behind the scenes to ensure that, you know, research in Denmark is properly funded, supported, and really positioned to make that global impact. They're even connected to this international declaration, the Botswana Statement, which we'll dive into later. Okay. You've got my attention now. So, these meeting minutes we've got, they span from January to August 2024. Where do we even begin? Hmm. Well, instead of going chronologically, how about we explore the big themes that emerge across all these meetings? Sounds like a plan. Let's start with DHARMA itself. How are their membership numbers looking? What about their finances? Well, if we jump into the January minutes, membership is at 393, and it's growing, which tells us that the field of research management, it's thriving in Denmark. Good news for the overall research ecosystem, right? More research managers, more support for researchers, more groundbreaking discoveries. That's what it's all about. But what about their finances? Are they rolling in dough? Well, financially, they're in a relatively healthy position, slight surplus even, but, and there's a clear emphasis on this throughout the minutes, there's a real focus on careful financial management. For example, the annual network meeting, it actually went a bit over budget, which sparked this whole discussion about cost control measures. Makes sense. Got to keep an eye on the bottom line. Okay. Let's talk about what DHARMA actually does. The minutes mention a ton of events, workshops, all sorts of activities. Absolutely. DHARMA organizes a really wide range of events, workshops, webinars, and then there's their flagship event, the annual network meeting. They even organized a study tour to Brussels, the heart of European policymaking. I can see why they'd want to be plugged into that network. Now, what about these special interest groups or SIGs that keep popping up? Ah, yes. The SIGs are a fascinating aspect of DHARMA. They have groups dedicated to very specific areas. We've got data and automation, working with the U.S., even research management at hospitals. It's quite diverse. Sounds like the SIGs are where those really focused, nitty-gritty discussions are happening. Experts in different fields sharing their insights, their challenges. Precisely. The minutes actually highlight this really successful meeting of the research management at small institutions SIG. They even discussed replicating that format with the innovation fund, Denmark, a major player in research funding. Interesting. So, it's not all smooth sailing, is it? Even DHARMA has its share of internal challenges, right? True. Even in a well-organized world of Danish research management, there are bumps in the road. Well, don't leave us hanging. What kind of bumps are we talking about? What's keeping DHARMA's organizers up at night? So, spill the tea. What kind of bumps in the road are we talking about? What's keeping those DHARMA organizers up at night? Well, one thing that comes up again and again in these minutes is this need to streamline their internal processes. They specifically mentioned Forninglet, their online platform. Right. Forninglet. We haven't really explained what that is, have we? You're right. It's their member management system. Think event registration, membership renewals, all that fun stuff. It's how they communicate with members, manage their activities, all of that. And from the sounds of it, they're running into some snags with its functionality, how user-friendly it is, that sort of thing. Yeah. I can imagine keeping those online systems running smoothly. It's like a full-time job in itself. What else are they dealing with? They're also grappling with a classic organizational challenge. How do you keep your SIG leaders engaged? Ah, yes. The eternal struggle. Exactly. And remember, these are volunteers. They've got demanding day jobs, their own research to manage. It seems like DHARMA's looking for ways to better support these folks, recognize the contributions they're making. It's a delicate balancing act, for sure. But let's loop back to something we touched on earlier. DHARMA's international activities. They're not just focused on Denmark, right? Oh, not at all. The Minutes, they actually reveal this strong commitment to international engagement, and on multiple fronts. We talked about that Brussels trip, but then there's also this Botswana statement. Yeah. What's the story there? Right. It's so interesting. The Minutes don't go into detail about what exactly IS in the statement, but it seems to be some kind of international declaration related to research management, best practices, that kind of thing. What's intriguing is that DHARMA, they chose not to sign it as an organization, although individual members, they were free to sign it if they wanted to. Interesting. Why not sign it, though? Was it like a boycott situation? Were they opposed to it? It's not totally clear from the Minutes alone, but we can do a bit of detective work, put some clues together. So DHARMA, along with I-NORMS, that's the International Network of Research Management Societies, they provided some feedback, suggesting the statement be a separate document. Okay. So maybe not outright opposition. Exactly. More like maybe they had some concerns about how it was presented or the overall framing of it. And this is where looking at their other international activities can be helpful. For example, in the March Minutes, there's this whole discussion about funding a study tour to Denmark for a group of Georgian research managers. Wow. Now that's commitment. Flying folks in from Georgia for a study tour, that's not a small expense. There's got to be a strategic reason behind that. Right. And I guess that DHARMA is really invested in fostering this collaboration, this knowledge sharing with emerging research nations. So maybe, just maybe, their hesitation to sign the Botswana Statement, it stemmed from this desire to engage with international partners in a more nuanced way, a more collaborative way. So you want to be thoughtful, deliberate. Not just jumping on board with every declaration that crosses their desk. Exactly. And that same thoughtful approach. It's definitely evident in how they're navigating arguably the biggest trend impacting their field right now, artificial intelligence. AI. It's inescapable these days. And research is definitely not immune to its influence. So what's DHARMA's take? Are they panicking? Are they embracing the robots? What's the vibe? Panic. Not exactly their style, but they're definitely taking it seriously, not burying their heads in the sand. In the February Minutes, there's this interesting little tidbit about Mads. He's a DHARMA board member, and he joined this new AI group. In IRMA, actually, the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators. So they're plugged into the AI conversation at the European level, too. What are they hoping to get out of that? They actually use the word synergy in the Minutes. They want to connect IRMA's AI initiatives with what they're already doing within DHARMA. Collaboration is key. Smart move. Why reinvent the wheel? Right? But let's get specific. What are some of DHARMA's AI-related concerns? What's keeping them up at night? One thing they keep coming back to is the impact of AI on research funding. In the August Minutes, there's this discussion about hosting an event, specifically on how AI is changing the game for research funding. Oh, that's fascinating. So it's not just about AI as a research tool, but also how it's changing the whole funding landscape. Are they worried that AI is going to replace research managers altogether? You know, it's interesting. They don't seem to be framing it as this humans versus machines scenario. Instead, it's more about, okay, what skills do research managers need to thrive in a world where AI is becoming more and more prevalent? Adaptation. It's all about adaptation. Exactly. And they're talking about this new mix of technical skills and those essential soft skills. It's not enough to be good with budgets and project management anymore. Research managers of the future, they'll need to know how to leverage these AI tools effectively while also bringing those uniquely human skills to the table. Technical thinking, creativity, collaboration, those are things robots can't replicate yet. It's that high-tech, high-touch combo, right? Yeah. It sounds like Dharma's got a pretty good handle on the whole AI thing. But AI isn't the only thing they're thinking about. They're also looking ahead to the future of Dharma itself, right? Absolutely. In the August Minutes, they have this really interesting section, this big picture brainstorming session about Vision 2024, thinking about their core purpose, you know, how can they best serve their members in the coming years? So what'd they come up with? What's the grand vision for the future of Dharma? No big surprises here. Knowledge sharing, networking, those are still top priorities. But they also want to really amplify the voice of research managers when it comes to, you know, shaping those funding landscapes, fostering professional development, and of course, driving innovation in the field. Basically, they want to be the go-to resource for everything related to research management in Denmark. Exactly. And they're not just talking the talk. They're also exploring really concrete actions to bring this vision to life. Like what? Give us the juicy details. Well, they talk about things like revamping their introductory training program, maybe making it more interactive, more engaging. They also discuss the idea of, you know, exploring new formats for their annual meetings. Could there be more opportunities for networking, for collaboration? And because, let's face it, digital is king these days, they're even considering creating this whole platform for sharing job opportunities within the Dharma Network. I love that. It shows they're thinking about the career development of their members, too. It's one thing to attract people to the field, but you also want to help them grow in advance. Right. You want to keep them engaged. And this commitment to their members, it even extends to their SIG leaders, too. Remember how we were talking about those challenges with engaging those volunteer leaders? Oh, yes. A tale as old as time for any organization. Keep those volunteers happy. Right. And in August Minutes, they actually identify some specific challenges faced by SIG leaders. Things like, you know, lack of clear guidance, not enough opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, that sort of thing. Sounds like they need a better support system in place. Exactly. They even talk about developing, like, a how-to guide for SIG leaders, providing more training opportunities and even fostering closer connections between the SIG leaders and the board itself. Communication is key. Make people feel heard. Make them feel valued. Couldn't have said it better myself. So, as we wrap up our deep dive into the world of Dharma, what are the, like, big takeaways for our listeners today? You know, what really stands out to me is that even though Dharma is a relatively small association, they are grappling with some of the biggest issues facing research today. The rise of AI, the evolving skills needed to secure funding. It's a lot. It's like they've got their fingers on the pulse of research innovation. They do. And they're not shying away from the tough questions, from the bold ideas. They're in it to win it, and they're committed to supporting their members every step of the way. It makes you realize just how crucial research management is to the whole research enterprise. They're the unsung heroes, the ones working behind the scenes to make sure the lights stay on, so to speak. Perfectly said. Which actually brings us to our final thought for you, our listeners. Given everything we've learned about Dharma, about the trends they're facing, what does this tell us about the future of research in Denmark? And maybe even more broadly, what does it suggest about the future of research in your own field? Lots to think about. But for now, we'll leave you with this. If you're ever curious about what's really going on behind the scenes of Danish research, don't be shy. Reach out to Dharma. Attend one of their events, join a SIG, or just send them a message. And who knows? You might just be inspired to become a research manager yourself. Until next time, keep diving deep.