Process
Why a Roadmap?
Our research enterprise has expanded tremendously over the last few decades, and we have had a steady rate of growth in awards. Yet there is more we can do to fully leverage our incredible potential for achievements and impact. Since its inception, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) has been without a strategic plan to guide Carolina’s research enterprise. As a result, we have often operated opportunistically, which can have its benefits. Yet at the same time, without a campus-level strategy, we run the risk of not fully leveraging our incredible research potential.
Strategic plans bring focus to complex organizations by setting clear goals and objectives. By creating alignment across departments and teams, we will capitalize upon shared goals and vision, allowing mutually-agreed-upon strategic priorities to take shape. The Research Roadmap we have developed is responsive to gaps and opportunities identified by key stakeholders. Together, we will work to ensure Carolina’s continued research leadership and impact.
How We Got Here
The OVCR engaged a diverse group of stakeholders across campus in a comprehensive process to develop this roadmap. During Phase 1, we gathered insights from key stakeholders including University leaders, deans of schools and research units, directors of pan-campus centers and institutes, and faculty members deeply involved in research activities. We conducted a campus-wide survey and held many stakeholder group discussions to determine how to move forward. Within the OVCR, we analyzed data from the survey and stakeholder meetings to draft the Research Roadmap, which we then vetted with our key stakeholders and University leadership to finalize.
Together, we worked to identify areas of strength, opportunities for improvement, and strategies to amplify Carolina’s research impact. In addition, we ensured that the roadmap is synergistic with current strategic efforts being led by the Chancellor, the Provost, and other vice chancellors. For example, our priorities intersect with the four areas of focus put forward by Interim Chancellor Roberts: Enrollment, Master Plan, Applied Science, and Generative AI.
The resulting product is responsive to those needs and aspirations for Carolinaʼs research future that our stakeholders identified during the planning phase. Our thorough process has led to a strong and well-conceived plan that will benefit campus and allow us to do more impactful work that changes and saves lives in North Carolina and beyond.
Research Roadmap:
Strategic Priorities
Enhance
Research Assets
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Fundraising for state-of-the-art research facilities, equipment, data & technology |
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Sustainable funding models for technology & equipment |
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Re-imagine research cores |
Promote
growth & opportunity
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Campus Alignment & Prioritization (supporting Chancellor priorities) |
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Support for major funding opportunities |
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Mechanisms to drive Collaborative/Convergent Science |
Maximize
Value & Impact
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Stakeholder engagement & stewardship (ROI/value) |
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Enhance community-engaged and applied research |
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Discovery and translation ecosystem |
Key Operational Imperatives
Support & Grow Talented Research Workforce
Facilitate Efficient Research Support & Compliance
Our Strategic Goals
The roadmap focuses on three strategic goals necessary to sustain and propel our growth:
- Enhance Research Assets: Build, improve, and maintain state-of-the-art research facilities, equipment, data, and technology to enable success.
- Promote Growth & Opportunity: Grow Carolina’s research by identifying and investing in strategic opportunities, leveraging existing research strengths, and fostering collaboration that leads to discovery and addresses challenges.
- Maximize Value and Impact: Increase the impact of Carolina research and communicate its value.
Operational Imperatives
To support these goals, the roadmap also identifies two key operational imperatives, necessary to support the three strategic goals:
- Research Workforce: Support and grow a talented research workforce to ensure Carolina’s continued excellence in research to serve N.C. and the world.
- Research Support and Compliance: Foster an environment that facilitates efficient research processes, promotes integrity, objectivity, and quality of research outputs.
Research touches almost all aspects of the University. Any given research project relies on partnership with many operational units across campus. For this reason, we approach implementation in a systems framework that engages key partners in research, notably, Vice Chancellors who are responsible for Finance & Operations, Innovation, and Development, as well as leaders from Carolina’s schools and colleges. Our collaborative engagement with key campus stakeholders throughout the Roadmap’s development means that we have willing campus partners who are invested in its success and who see benefits of campus alignment around strategic research goals.
From our comprehensive stakeholder engagement in the strategic planning, it became clear that three guiding principles are essential in how we move forward: