Understanding URAs in Japan

A conceptual framework for unified comprehension to diversified roles of URAs

Abstract

This paper overviews today's status of university research administrators (URAs) in Japan and provides a conceptual framework of their roles to promote a comprehension of diversity of URAs. Firstly, we investigated multifarious backgrounds of demands for URAs. Secondly, we confirmed diversified roles of current URAs from a review of a nation-wide questionnaire inquiry and an original survey of recruit documents. These examinations reveal such diversity follows organizational demands and major universities request URAs to be multifunctional professionals. To this end, we provided a model of acquisition and utilization of research resources and illustrated relationship between the model and functions of URAs. Our framework will aid to understand the difference of their functions among universities and to design appropriate mandates of URAs.