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    History

    Background to the formation of the Association

    The Association is an outgrowth of the Research Directors Forum (RDF) which met annually for a number of years to review various issues related to research management and administration. At the meeting of the RDF in October 2001, it was agreed to form a new Association with a wider scope. At the Inaugural meeting in Cape Town on 14 February 2002, attended by over 100 members, the Association was formally established.

    A number of international institutions are supporting the Association, including a comprehensive training and development programme for professional staff.

    • The International Intellectual Property Institute (IIPI) based in Washington, USA. Bruce Lehman, the President of IIPI visited South Africa in September 2001 and returned for the Inaugural meeting with a team of 6. IIPI have offered support for the Association and ongoing training and development activities. In addition to their resources,
    • IIPI have mobilized additional support from USAID and US PTO.
    • The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), with assistance from DFID in the UK, supported a best practice workshop in Durban in 2001 and are willing to provide further support. John Kirkland of the ACU was a keynote speaker at the RDF meeting in October and at the Inaugural meeting.
    • Dr Cathy Garner (Vice-President for International Relations) and Phil Ternouth of the Association of University Technology Mangers (AUTM) visited SA in November 2001 and facilitated the workshop at which the Founding Steering Committee was formed. AUTM are willing to engage with and assist the Association in South Africa.