Events – SARIMA

Upcoming events

Upcoming events are available in the following categories:

Training courses
Professional development interventions
Platforms for Networking + Knowledge exchange + Sharing of best practices

Training courses

Webinar: Open Research in Practice: Data Management, Sharing, Transparency and New Models of Scholarly Communication

Hosted by the Community of Practice in Research Output, Outcomes and Impact (COP-ROOI). Guiding research administrators in creating supportive policies, infrastructure, and compliance systems for open science and helping researchers understand how open research, data sharing, and transparency enhance visibility, credibility, and collaboration to promote a culture of openness that strengthens research quality, trust, and global impact.

Date: 5 August 2026.

Virtual Course: Know how to manage your know-how: Tacit Knowledge as Intellectual Property

This course explores know-how as a functional form of IP and its role in technology transfer across legal and scientific platforms, and why it is critical in the innovation management and commercialization domain.

Date: 12 August 2026.

Online short course: Programme Evaluation

Learn the practical elements in the design of a conceptual framework, metrics and indicators, use of evaluation analytics tools, and development and communication of an evaluation plan and results.

Date: 18 August 2026.

Webinar: Bioethics and Ubuntu: Integrating African Humanism into Research Ethics Management

Hosted by the Community of Practice in Research Ethics and Integrity (COPREI). Bridging global ethics with Ubuntu’s spirit of shared humanity in responsible research: this course is designed to deepen Research Management and Administration professionals’ understanding of ethical
practice through both international standards and African philosophical perspectives. The course explores how global research ethics frameworks—such as respect for persons, justice, beneficence, and responsible stewardship—intersect with Ubuntu’s emphasis on interconnectedness, compassion, and collective well-being.

Date: TBC.

SARIMA Conference 2026: Johannesburg

Date: 8 – 11 September 2026.

Webinar: IPRC Professionalisation

A session to understand the International Professional Recognition Council’s different professional designations and their value across the SADC
region. Explore the application processes, criteria, the Professional Competency Framework and how training points can be used in professionalisation applications.

Date: TBC.

Webinar: Collaborating with Machines: AI as a Partner in Research Management

Redefining workflows, decision-making, and collaboration in the AIaugmented research office: how AI is transforming the human–machine collaboration dynamic in research management.

Date: 30 September 2026.

Free Webinar: RM Mental Wellness Day

Hosted by the Community of Practice in Research Ethics and Integrity (COP-REI). For research management and administration
practitioners to function at their best, they require stress-management training, mindfulness, and resilience-building activities. The activities will foster supportive peer discussions aimed at strengthening emotional wellbeing, work–life balance and coping skills within the high-pressure research management environment.

Date: 9 October 2026.

Webinar: Carnegie Global Ethics Day

Co-hosted by the Community of Practice in Research Ethics and Integrity (COP-REI). Established by Carnegie Council for Ethics in
International Affairs in 2014, Global Ethics Day is an international annual opportunity for individuals and organisations to explore their values and the principles that shape ethical decision-making.

Date: 15 October 2026.

Online short course: Gender in Science, Technology & Innovation

Explore gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) dynamics in new scientific knowledge and new technologies and how women and men encounter the products of science and technology.

Date: 20 October 2026.

Virtual Course: Marketing University Innovations

Examine the technical and practical aspects of technology management within universities and how technology marketing can be done within this institutional copntext, including practical examples, tools and case studies.

Date: 27 October 2026.

Webinar: Beyond Borders: Showcasing African Scholarship to the World

Promoting high-quality, globally relevant African research through international collaboration and wider dissemination, encouraging
researchers to engage beyond academia while keeping local relevance. For research managers, this stresses systems that enhance visibility, partnerships, and impact tracking, together driving a shared mission to position African scholarship for measurable global influence.

Date: 5 November 2026.

Virtual Course: Managing the AI Shift: Leadership and Innovation in Research Management and Administration

Building AI-ready institutions for the future of research management. This course prepares research management and administration practitioners
to lead organisational transformation in an era of rapid AI advancement by focusing on ethical integration, innovation management, and strategic adoption of AI tools in research environments. It equips institutions to become AI-ready by strengthening digital capacity, governance frameworks, and forward-looking leadership skills

Date: 12 November 2026.

TTO-Industry mentorship programme

The mentorship programme aims to support the professional and leadership development of technology transfer professionals (TTP) based at public research institutions in South Africa, through access to appropriate calibre mentors with requisite experience in technology innovation, including commercial/industry expertise. This programme is unique in that the mentorship is not only meant to guide the TTP with personal development but also to assist to fast-track the development/commercialisation of at least one technology.

TT Exchange Programme

Both local and international exchanges support the strengthening of technology transfer capacity in South Africa through exposure to local and international TT environments; provide a mechanism to foster partnerships and collaborations amongst South African institutions and between international research institutions in order to catalyse the transfer of knowledge and technologies; as well as, fast-track the development of TT staff.

Expert-in-residence (EIR) programme

One of the major challenges faced by TTOs is limited budgets that constrain the TTOs’ ability to attract and retain personnel with appropriate technology commercialisation skills and experience. IN response to this, SARIMA will pilot for the first time its “Expert-in-Residence” programme this year. The programme is designed to develop and strengthen technology commercialisation skills of TTO staff while also accelerating technology commercialisation in public research institutions through the use of an EiR’s experience and networks.

Platforms for Networking + Knowledge exchange + Sharing of best practices

Regional Forums

SARIMA will be embarking on a number of regional Forums in 2019 for Research Management and Technology Transfer professionals. These Forums provide a platform for interactive discussions on issues, challenges and successes that are relevant and/or unique to a particular region. Most importantly, it promotes the creation of a network of individuals located in a region such that practitioners can engage with each other to soundboard ideas, share solutions on specific issues, and seek opportunities to collaborate. Furthermore, national Director Forums will also be held to discuss more strategic matters facing RM and TT Offices.

Save the Date: 2025 SARIMA Conference

Click here for more information.

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