Nina Hakanpaa and Wendy Steven lead ENU’s efforts to strengthen research management in LMICs
Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) is taking a leading role in improving research management in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with External Projects Manager, Wendy Steven and Research Funding Manager, Nina Hakanpaa at the forefront of these efforts.
Representing Edinburgh Napier at a high-impact three-day workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania recently, Nina and Wendy joined experts from across Africa and the UK to tackle the challenges facing research managers in resource-limited settings.
Critical role of research management in international collaborations
The workshop was coordinated by Mary Ryan, International Research Development Manager from The University of Glasgow. Other UK Universities taking part in the workshop included, UCL, Durham University, University of Bristol and University of Reading.
The workshop gathered over 100 participants from universities, funding organisations, and research institutions to discuss the critical role of research management in fostering international collaborations.
Despite growing research capabilities in LMICs, the development of skilled research managers has not kept pace, creating barriers to securing global funding and maintaining research excellence.
Strengthening research ecosystems & partnerships in LMICs
Drawing on their extensive experience in international collaborations, including projects in Kenya, Nina and Wendy highlighted the widespread challenges research managers face. Many operate with minimal administrative support, while navigating complex funder requirements, making it difficult to sustain high-quality research operations.
As global initiatives like the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) expand, the demand for skilled research management professionals continues to rise, underscoring the urgency of capacity-building efforts.
ENU’s participation in this workshop reinforces the university’s commitment to strengthening research ecosystems in LMICs and fostering equitable partnerships.
By sharing expertise and collaborating with international stakeholders, ENU is helping to bridge the gap in research management, ensuring institutions worldwide can meet global standards and enhance their impact on critical research initiatives.
Nina Hakanpaa and Wendy Steven are part of Edinburgh Napier’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise department. ENU staff can learn more about the support this team provides to academics and the ENU research community via our Edinburgh Napier Staff Intranet.
Learn more about the collaborative ambitions of developing international research programmes for LMICs in this Times Higher Education opinion piece from Mary Ryan, University of Glasgow.