ARMA UK Financial sustainability of research 2025 The financial sustainability of research remains a real concern and ARMA has now established a Task and Finish Group to better understand the impact on members and institutions. We hope our work will· Contribute to gaps in the evidence needed by funders and policy makers· Improve our dialogue with funders on this topic· Feedback into the training that ARMA provides to support members grappling with these challengesARMA members are uniquely placed to share what is happening in their own institutions so please do respond to this short survey which should take 5 mins of your time. The more responses we get the more representative our findings will be. All views expressed will be anonymous and only shared in aggregated form with government, stakeholders and members. Question Title * 1. What measures are your institution taking to manage financial pressures? Please choose as many as are relevant to your institution Reviewing your approach to costing research proposals Introducing restrictions to applying for certain types of funder/ grant application Choosing not to bid for certain funding opportunities or take part in particular collaborations/partnerships on the grounds of cost Introduction or increase in demand management processes Introducing/updating institutional policies on overheads/institutional contributions to funding bids Actively seeking to change the balance of external funders from which your institution receives income Reducing internal research or innovation funding schemes Changing approval levels with more demand on senior staff to review claims, costs and/or contracts Changing the approach to using QR or its equivalent in the devolved nations Stopping/reducing research or KE activity in specific areas Recruiting fewer PGR students Pausing capital investment plans Extending life of existing research equipment/not replacing equipment as quickly as before Reducing staff time for research to reflect increasing teaching loads Launch of voluntary severance schemes and restructuring parts of the institution Freezing academic or PS staff recruitment plans Not renewing fixed term contracts Drawing on AI tools to increase support function efficiency or change ways of working Additional efforts being put into student recruitment Change institutional approach to clearing – for example the types of courses on offer, eligibility requirements Reducing /restricting investment in programmes around environmental and/or social sustainability No measures specifically related to financial pressures being taken I don’t know Something else: Question Title * 2. Are you/your institution seeing changes in academic behaviour in response to financial pressures? If so, please provide some examples: Question Title * 3. Have any of the measures introduced impacted on your institutions research culture? Yes – to a small extent Yes – to a moderate extent Yes – to a significant extent No significant change Unsure or not yet clear No measures introduced yet Question Title * 4. If you answered yes please comment on how this has impacted on culture, either positively or negatively. If possible please comment on how the impacts you see fall under one of the 5 themes that REF2029 will consider as part of the PCE submission. These are Strategy, Responsibility, Connectivity, Inclusivity and Development Question Title * 5. If your institution is introducing restrictions on applications or has chosen not to apply for funding on affordability grounds please indicate which type of funding this focuses on [select all that apply] PGR related funding such as doctoral training partnerships Large, complex projects involving multiple partners Capital equipment Fellowships Charitable funders UKRI funding Other central government funding International funders or foundations Not applicable – my institution is not restricting funding applications We would welcome specific examples of where you have chosen NOT to apply or any further details of your institution’s approach: Question Title * 6. At which level are decisions about how to manage the financial challenges for research and knowledge exchange taken in your institution? At the most senior / exec level At the faculty / school level At a more local (subject / discipline) level A mix of all levels Not sure Question Title * 7. About you and your institution: What type of role do you hold in your institution? Junior role in research support Manager in research support Senior leader of research support functions Financial role within my institution Other (please specify) Question Title * 8. About your institution - what TRAC peer group is your institution in? A B C D E F Don't know Question Title * 9. Where are you located? Wales Northern Ireland England Scotland Question Title * 10. Where applicable, which KEF cluster is your institution in? Cluster E Cluster J Cluster M Cluster V Cluster X STEM Specialist Arts Specialist Other (please specify) N/A Question Title * 11. Would you be willing to participate in a focus group to explore the topics covered in this survey in greater depth? Yes No Question Title * 12. If yes, please enter your name and contact details below Name Institution Email Address Question Title * 13. Do you have any further comments that you would like to feedback to the Task and Finish Group Done
