The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is today hosting a conference on best practices for its Web-based research tool.
Users of the integrated Research Information Management System (RIMS) will meet for the first time to share the best practices in implementing the tool.
The department says the one-day conference will provide an opportunity for discussions on wider strategic issues related to system intelligence and informed policy-making.
The conference will be attended by IT and research experts, deputy vice-chancellors of research, executive directors of science councils and potential users of the system.
Affording research
The DST launched the Web-based research management tool in 2008, to provide real-time information on human resources for science, engineering, technology, research and development (R&D) capacity and technology improvement and innovation.
“The system has been designed to capture statistical information on R&D activities by universities, science councils and other government R&D funding agencies. This enables government to source reliable information at these entities for policy-making and the monitoring of the science and technology capacity and research productivity.”
The DST says it has already transferred R56.63 million to the National Research Foundation (NRF) since 2007 for the implementation of the project, and so far eight historically black universities, that did not have a research management system, can now afford one.
In addition, six universities reported research outputs to the Department of Higher Education and Training with the aid of the RIMS research outputs module.
“The project is also contributing to human capital development as 17 interns have been deployed to the various institutions this financial year. Some of these interns were absorbed by these institutions.”
Phase one
The department says the RIMS project is divided into the implementation and maintenance phases. The project is currently in the implementation phase, which will be completed in March 2012.
“The implementation phase's purpose is to get all 23 universities and nine science councils to join the RIMS consortium. It is also to have all the modules customised, piloted and tested for South African conditions and then implemented by the participating consortium members.”
The DST adds that 19 universities and nine science councils have joined the RIMS consortium. All these institutions are implementing the modules at varying stages.
“The rest of the universities will continue using their legacy management systems, while providing the required data into RIMS.”
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