An explorative analysis of effective project management of research and research-related projects within a newly formed multi-campus Technology University /

Abstract

Higher education will be crucial in the coming decades in helping to make Ireland a nation known for innovation, competitive enterprise, and ongoing academic success, as well as a desirable location to live and work with a high quality of life, vibrant culture, and inclusive social structures. Higher education institutions will actively connect with each student community, society, and business; they will help students develop a sense of place and identity in Ireland and provide the tools they need to contribute significantly to the global community. It will also serve as a catalyst for novel ideas through research, many of which will become the foundation for long-lasting innovative businesses in the future as part of the 2030 National Strategy on Education. This strategy focuses on changing and developing our education system and how we conduct research. The emphasis is central to knowledge transfer and a consistent research framework while exploiting opportunities and having the necessary expertise. The newly formed Technological Universities in Ireland are based on a government initiative to create a new type of higher education institution focusing on applied and industry-focused research and education. The basis of the Technological University is to bring together two or more existing Institutes of Technologies to create a larger, more comprehensive institution that offers a broader range of programs and services to students and industry partners. The Technological University model promotes collaboration between academia, industry, and community organisations to foster innovation, research, and economic development. The Technological University is designed to emphasise applied research, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship to foster innovation and contribute to economic growth. Therefore, effective Project Management of research projects within the newly formed Technological Universities is central to ensuring the Technological University objectives are fulfilled. A project is a collection of organised tasks to produce a singular output (product or service) within a given time frame. Project Management is a set of activities that facilitates the successful implementation of a project. The significant differences between research projects and development projects are the (lack of) precise requirements and (the inability to) plan an outcome from the beginning of the project. The evaluation criteria for a research project must consider these and other "particularities" in works; for instance, proving something cannot be done may be a successful outcome. This study intends to explore how a newly established multi-campus Technological Universitymanages research projects effectively. The study will identify the potentials and difficulties of managing research projects, the tools, resources and processes available in a multi-campus Technological 5 | P a g e University context and the methods and approaches employed to deal with these difficulties. Key stakeholders like Project Managers, academics and administrators will be surveyed as part of the study, which will also involve an explorative investigation of current literature and data. The findings of this study will contribute to creating best practices for Project Management in this setting and offer insightful information about the efficient management of research projects within a multi-campus Technological University.