Management of Research Projects in Universities: Perspectives of Research Managers

The quality management of research projects in universities is crucial because if projects are not effectively managed, the objectives of the research projects will not be achieved, leading to a waste of time and already limited research resources. Failure to successfully execute a research project can discourage government and donor agencies from investing in university research. This study was focused on finding out factors research managers perceive to be hindering the management of research projects in universities. A semi-structured interview guide was used for data collection, and the data collected was analyzed thematically. The participants were 25 research managers. This study offers several contributions to policy and practice. This study found that centralization in the management of research projects, mismanagement of resources and lack of accountability, poor communication with project stakeholders, unrealistic deadlines and inadequate funds, inadequate project management skills, and risk management are critical factors hindering the management of research projects. Effective management of research projects can attract more research funding and more research projects, leading to an improvement in the research performance of universities. Implications are given to improve the research policy and the management of research projects in universities.