‘One Year On’

Reflections on the International Research Culture Conference 2024 (IRCC24)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v12i3.1854

Keywords:

research culture, collaboration, international, networking, partnerships, knowledge exchange, research on research

Abstract

Between the first and second International Research Culture Conference (IRCC), there has been increasing advocacy for improved research culture, evidenced through collaborative initiatives, networks and events aimed at addressing various challenges within research environments.

This reflection follows the International Research Culture Conference 2024 (IRCC24) and highlights significant developments leading up to it, detailing expanded participation and thematic diversity. Key takeaways from the conference included the influence of the Research Excellence Framework - People Culture and Environment pilot, the importance of continued collaboration and increased need for efficiency in this space. It concludes with reflections on future direction, advocating for continued collaboration, increased evaluation, and learning with and from international perspectives to foster meaningful improvement in research culture.

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Author Biographies

  • Marie Sams, National Centre for Research Culture, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

    Marie has 24+ years’ experience in higher education, in professional service and teaching roles and has worked on international projects aimed at improving higher education experience. With a Doctorate in supporting women into leadership in higher education, she is passionate about culture change and making environments more inclusive. She is the Head of the National Centre for Research Culture, and leads on management of the Centre, including the NCRC roadmap, raising the visibility of research culture, and the International Research Culture conference. She has facilitated work in identifying institutional problem statements and shaped recommendations for improving wellbeing of early career researchers.

  • Rika Nair, Research and Impact Services, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

    Although her background is in medical research (Microbiology PhD), Rika has since applied her expertise to support a variety of disciplines and all stages of the research project cycle. At Warwick, she drives institutional research culture priorities, managing communities of practice, working groups to address key challenges, and initiatives that foster a vibrant interdisciplinary research environment. Rika is also the Network Lead for the Research Culture Enablers Network, which brings together over 230 colleagues from research culture teams to collaborate strategically on shared issues. She also actively promotes research culture opportunities and best practices through the LinkedIn group, Research Culture Knowledge Exchange.

  • Sotaro Kita, Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

    Kita is Professor of Psychology of Language at the University of Warwick. He is a former member of the Research Executive at Warwick (2021-2024) and a former Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor (2023-2024) and was responsible for research culture. He was the founding Director of National Centre for Research Culture (2023-2024). He also designed the Warwick PATHWAY programme to facilitate research    careers    for    Black    students    and researchers. He obtained a PhD in psychology and linguistics at  the  University  of Chicago. He has since worked in the Netherlands and   in   the   UK (University of   Bristol, University of Birmingham, and University of Warwick).

A canada goose and its reflection on a serene lake

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Published

2025-08-27

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2025): Special Issue: Research Culture '25

Section

Critical Reflections

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Marie Sams, Rika Nair, Sotaro Kita

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