About Us
CAURA is a national voice for research administrators in Canada . Distinct from other national organizations, CAURA's strength is in its diversity and comprehensive approach to research administration. CAURA provides a critical interface between all stakeholders in the management of the research enterprise.
Founded in 1971, the Canadian Association of University Research Administrators is a national association of individuals committed to advancing the profession; to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of research administration at post-secondary institutions, hospitals, and other research institutes; to maintaining a strong presence and coherent voice on key issues relevant to research and to fostering co-operation and links with other organizations active in the management and administration of research.
CAURA is an associate member of AUCC (Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada) and fosters co-operation with sister organizations such as NCURA (National Council of University Research Administrators), SRA (Society of Research Administrators), AUTM (Association of University Technology Managers), CAUBO (Canadian Association of University Business Officers), CAREB (Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards) and RAGnet (Research Administrators' Group Network).
CAURA holds the Annual General Meeting each May. The next Annual General Meeting and Annual conference will be held in Ottawa, Ontario, May 15-18, 2011 at The Westin. The 2012 conference will be held in Charlottetown, PEI at the Delta May 6-9, 2012.
CAURA VISION
Over the next three years CAURA will build on its core strength of representing its membership through enhanced activities in the following focus areas:
Strategic Communications
- ListServe management: provide new opportunities for members to post job openings and conference offerings
- Web-Site management: enhance the use of the web as a communication tool; add new concourses for discussion and links to critical position papers and surveys
- Enhancing the relationship with sponsors and agencies
- Developing an experts list on selected topics to assist external partners in accessing the CAURA knowledge base
- Design and prepare marketing activities and articles
Knowledge Development
- Continue to offer the New Administrators Workshops: evolve as needed to suit the changing climate
- Transportable workshops (those that can be offered in conjunction with regional meetings or stand alone)
- Development of specific workshop such as NSERC/CAURA , SSHRC/CAURA, CIHR/CAURA in conjunction with partners
- Co-sponsorship of professional development activities such as project management seminars, intellectual property workshops etc.
Advocacy
Policy advocacy role
- Establishment of a ‘National Advisory Board’ with a formal process to present CAURA views and opinions on research issues in Canada in the form of ‘white papers” or another format. These ‘white papers’ would be ‘endorsed’ by the CAURA exec in the name of all members and forwarded to appropriate level within federal agency (Terms of Reference)
Example of ‘white’ papers
- Accountability framework in research (CFI vs NSERC vs CRC etc., etc.)
- Research performance indicators
- Indirect cost reporting issues
Catalytic role / Integrator role
- Recognize CAURA as an important ‘player’ in research management in Canada and increase it’s linkage with decisions makers across the country
- Utilize our membership in all organizations to provide a comprehensive reflection of the changes in research administration with the objective of influencing national policy that impacts on the research agenda (eg: research ethics, performance indicators and impact reports)
- Promotion of integration between operational teams (ORS offices) and policy development bodies (V.P. research)
- Promotion of integration with other institutional departments which potentially aren't as aware of the changed research environment and are currently working by outdated standards (ie non-MOU standards)
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