During my time in the program, many positive opportunities for discussion and networking emerged. Through discussions with my peers in the program, I have learned so much about the topic areas as well as how common issues are handled at other institutions. How did you use your professional association to grow your professional profile? I have enjoyed my volunteer service to CARA. It was well-attended and resulted in a lively discussion of many questions about Alliance. about how institutions operate as a whole, for me to perform better at work. "We at Pisces Research Project Management Inc, appreciate how Cara creates a collaborative community for information sharing. It both an altruistic giving of time and an ability to reap the reward of making new friends or discovering new ideas. The fact that it came from peers made me recognize the importance of maintaining my networks among my peers who are always there to answer my questions and provide critical insight from their own perspectives. I may not have got a chance to explore those topics in-depth on my own if I was not taking this course. The association's commitment to supporting members reflects Frans long-time commitment and vision to have formal education in the profession. )I did many of those things and they all paid off. She listened and shared her own experiences whichhave been invaluable in helping me shape my own career path. (wrote for blog, won an award, built a network, fellow experts' advice, presented at conference or webinar, etc. Thanks to CARA's outstanding community of Research Administrators, I have been able to work on my professional development through webinars, recommended resources and special interest groups, just to name a few.CARA's mentoring program has also allowed me to develop many new skills and to find the support, motivation and positive role models that I had been looking for across Canada.I am obviously very grateful for all the opportunities that have been offered to me by CARA not only as a volunteer, but also as a member. Support from CARA is becoming my biggest success factor and the reason to be focused on completing my work on time. The system is so easily laid out for students and the requirements are clearly stated. Some lasted longer than others, but every side project or volunteer task lead to new connections and new skills. The applied nature of the assignments allow me to use them in my daily work, and relate my work to the course material. Excellent course, practical content and instructors are quick to respond to any questions. The quality of teaching, the course material and the discussions have been invaluable. I believe that sometimes topics/projects are better suited to a poster presentation style vs a concurrent session, so having that option is wonderful. CARA awards are an important part of our annual program as they recognize the immense effort our volunteers put into this organization. It is an honour to be recognized by ones peers! Receiving this award is important to me as it shows my superiors that CARA is valuable to me and that makes me valuable to my employer. In the short time frame I have been enrolled in the program, I already have gained a greater understanding of the challenges and complexities institutions face in the research environment. I look forward to advancing my career through this certification. It has allowed me to connect with expert CARA colleagues and mentors who facilitated my journey to the finish line. I can tailor the assignment topics to my own professional development needs and source from my work experiences, knowledge, and current projects.For me, the best part of these courses has been the hundreds of insightful discussions about research development and administration issues my peers and I share. I have also very much appreciated the involvement of international students in the program.

In addition, a community works best when everyone contributes - everyone has a voice, an opinion, a unique point of view. The Canadian Association of Research Administrators. CARA is my teacher, because I am always a student. understanding of the project life-cycle and opportunities while learning I like doing poster presentations because you get an opportunity to chat in depth and network with like-minded individuals. I greatly enjoyed my time enrolled in the CRA through CARA and Mohawk College. I am beginning to grow my confidence just by having so many resourcesand support for this course. Due to the interest, I adapted it into a webinar presentation this past spring for CARA, which also added to my skills. I find CARA is a very supportive, responsive and respectful organization. CARA has been a wonderful learning and engagement experience for me. When we are all pressured by time, and challenged with new and difficult situations, having this group of peer experts has been invaluable. and absorbing every drop of wisdom and experience with all of the amazing CARA re-invests money from the partnership with Mohawk College in bursaries for our members who are advancing the profession through their studies. Receiving a bursary really made it possible for me to enrol in the 2nd course and I am really grateful to CARA for this opportunity. Canadian Association of Research Administrators.

In recent years I have enjoyed participating in CARA more actively by volunteering to teach webinars, work with a special interest group, and edit the CARA newsletter. I have been a member of CARA since 2003 and I have been involved as a presenter, session organizer, on the executive, as a CARA representative at tech transfer and export control conferences and even as a talent show host! We trust our SIG to help us grow in our roles and provide support when our institutional colleagues cannot understand our unique experiences. Apply here for the 2020-2023Research Administration Certificate Bursary. The CRA provided me with the tools and resources to further my career and professional development. I am excited to become more engaged and partake in more CARA events moving forward. Volunteers can lead SIG groups to engage with members on specific topics, volunteers can engage with leaders in our field to build career networks, or volunteers could build new friendships with people who share common interests. It looks quite intensive. Participating in CARA has always provided me with a sense of community. Thank you so much, especially to Sarah Lampson for so much support. I have learnt the nuances of research processes through following CARAs webinars on how to work together with a multicultural and multigenerational workforce. I chose CARA as my professional association for the many educational webinars it offers, the annual networking opportunities at both national and regional levels, and the opportunity to learn from other research administrators nationally and regionally through the CARA emails and through the mentorship program.. I am connected to an online community of research administrators, funders, and consultants from across Canada. Information is sent out regularly via the cara-net list-serve as well. I would recommend the book to anyone who is interested in learning about others career paths, and who might want to find inspiration for how the amalgamation of various past experiences contributes to an individuals overall evolution in employment. CARA has done a great job at knowledge translation in research administration!CARAs webinar process is easy for speakers to use and connect with the attendees. through other's shared success and failures. Finally, people have different preferences and comfort levels for presenting, so having a few different options make the opportunities accessible to more people.Having the opportunity to present information on the research program planning activities Id been involved in with new researchers was not only fun, but the interest in the poster during and after the conference validated what I think is an important planning aspect for researcher success. As a recipient of both CARAs Research Management Excellence Award, as well as the Dan Chase Distinguished Service Award, I have felt a renewed sense of pride in the work that I have done to advance the profession of research administration, and remain highly appreciative of CARAs acknowledgement.CARAs recognition has broadened my network, enhanced my marketability as a professional and, most importantly, allowed me to grow as a leader in our field. I look forward every year to seeing the work of my fellow research administrators being featured.

I wanted an opportunity to meet more people and learn from some of the very best nationally. It was especially a very valuable experience for someone like me who transitioned form the other side of the table (research) to the research administration world. I was able to make inroads with colleagues and funding sponsors. a little work with the Project Management SIG and then decided to place my I was skeptical about my ability to complete the program with my busy schedule. The different committees and groups that I have been a part of have allowed me to meet so many amazing individuals and learn from them. Melissa Gordon of UWO has been a wonderful mentor. Truth be told, I bought the CARA publication because I contributed to the particular e-book,Career Journeys: Leaders Share Different Career Journeys in Research Administration, the third in this CARA initiative, so perhaps the purchase was fuelled by a bit of narcissism on my part.After reading through it, though, I was honoured to be included in this group of leaders, which I dont think truly applies to me and is probably a detail I missed when I sent my contribution, and to be among a grouping that pretty much all have PhDs, something in which I am also lacking.But what impressed me about this publication is the diversity of peoples backgrounds and the variety of career paths that led them to their current post, something that I personally find fascinating. Being an active member of CARA is a great opportunity for professional growth, and I continue to reap the benefits of being a part of this dynamic network of Research Administrators. be appointed to the board and contributed some time on the PD Committee and Long before there was any formal professional development available for research administrators in Canada there was CARA. Few talked about the intangible benefits that we do not experience unless you are part of this wonderful supportive community. The units look very interesting and very applicable to my position. While other associations or content providers that are specific to a role within research administration are beneficial, a more role-inclusive association, such as this one, provides the ability to seek information and connections across different roles, fostering the reduction of silos within the research administration world. As a working mom, I found this valuable to be able to listen to lectures and read the material when it best suited my schedule. Furthermore, this program provides a platform tocommunicate and share knowledge andexperience with the professionals in diverse institutions in Canada, a fantastic opportunity tolearn fromeach other. Overall, it was an absolute fantastic experience! name forward for service on the Executive.

Suffice to say its been an excellent conduit for professional development! The more people who volunteer on a local level, the more research as a whole will grow and develop and the effects will be felt locally and globally.

My experience with CARA has been such a positive one where Ive been able to both moderate and present at a national conferences, host webinars, present posteres, and contribute toward social media posts and blog all of which have led to increasing my network connections and not to mention broaden my knowledge base of the Research Administration Profession. I have been fortunate to attend many CARA National and CARA West conferences, which have always provided me with opportunities to learn more about the Canadian funding environment and research portfolio development, while supporting the development of my professional network. We also look forward to seeing them every year because there aint no party like an AWARDS SIG party! They provided an opportunity to learn the nuances of Canadian research administration and, importantly, to meet interesting colleagues through the online medium.I hope to continue my relationship with CARA by preparing further webinars on topics of interest to a broad CARA audience. Receiving the Research Management Excellence Award in 2015 was a wonderful recognition by my peers as I began my 20th year in my career in research management. Lastly thank you for the support you were able to offer meduring the last term of my program in the form of the Dr.Frances Chandler Bursary. It has empowered my knowledge about the field in general. Ever since I attended the webinar for registration into the research administration certification course, I have had immense support from all staff and faculty. The ability to archive content allows for it to continue to be available and for a speaker to choose when to update it by re-presenting the material (such as after a couple of years or when applicable regulations change).Im always happy to present CARA webinars. If I can gain new knowledge in the process, all the better! This program offers administrators the knowledge needed to understand all aspects of research administration from both the pre award and post award side. I have changed employers since then and now find myself surrounded by a number of engaged CARA members at the University of Saskatchewan. Thank you also for the accompanying seminars and offered books. The recurring thread for those featured was that, for the most part, none had intentionally pursued a career in research administration, but all the various paths led them to this common ground. I highly recommend this program for anyone interested in this field as well as for people already working in Research Administration. In addition, the coursework provides the opportunity to explore all areas of research and aspects of research administration, which I hope will be a resource for future career opportunities. Putting myself in the uncomfortable position of giving presentations, greeting people, and generally forcing myself outside of my comfort zone allowed me to continue my growth as a Research Administrator and as a human being. It also made me realize I have an obligation to return that energy and continue my role as a mentor to newer research administration professionals both in a formal role as a mentor in the CARA accreditation program but also informally among colleagues in CARA and internationally in ARMA and ARMS. funding sources and opportunities while this opportunity broadens one's It was a truly enjoyable Sc., P. Eng. I enjoy working collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal (eg. I stronglyencourageanyone sitting on the fence for taking up this course to just apply for next term and dive right in!! I believe in paying it forward, and sharing knowledge and ideas around research can have far-reaching effects for the benefit of mankind. Our sharing of knowledge, processes, and creative solutions helped me to grow within my own field. The Research Administration Certificate offers a comprehensive list of courses designed to cover the main topics associated with the production of high-quality research projects, and it deserves to be promoted and recognized as a valuable resource. As a recent graduate and new hire at UBC, I knew that this knowledge would be an asset to me in my unfolding career.What impressed me most was the focus on applied and collaborative learning as I was required to develop, critique, and submit a grant proposal to a funder and engage in on-line and face to face engagement with others across Canada. Instead of fearing our competition, we embraced them, and opened up ourselves to a network of amazing and learned individuals from across the country. Learning how these are dealt with at other institutions has been invaluable, as are the connections Ive made with colleagues from a range of research institutions, across the country and abroad. People should consider what members of the CARA community they would like to get to know better, as this community is a valuable resource. administrative burden, impacting our profession. Many of us get narrow in scopewith one or two functions within the project cycle, and in regards to I also like that each entry had the writers distinct voice and personal story. Katie Porter, Director of Research Administration, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation. The instructors were leading experts in their field and the course materials were relevant to my professional development. Research involves collaboration not just with immediate co-workers but with other researchers in Canada and the world. As CARA President, Fran established the partnership with Mohawk College that resulted in the development of Canada's first college certificate in research administration. First, I met fantastic people within my field and created relationships that will far outlast the time I spent volunteering. Thank you for providing this valuable professional development opportunity! Volunteering for CARA as co-Chairs of the Awards, Honours, and Distinctions SIG changed the way we approached our jobs. I was delighted and humbled to Research Administration Certificate program is an excellent match to my interest, as I am interested in acareer in research development. For NSERC this was a very efficient way to reach many university research administrators at one time.

The program also inspired me to take on a mentorship role at CARA; I'm very proud and happy to serve in the role of a CARA mentor and provide guidance and knowledge to the next generation of CRA students. The webinar was well-advertised (NSERC employees also saw Tweets CARA had posted about the webinar) and went very smoothly. shared experience that are of benefit to all. Funding received through CARAs certificate bursary will help me achieve the professional certification requisite I need to qualify for a more senior research development position. I appreciate the community and knowledge that I had access to when I was an in-house research administrator and I love being able to contribute to the CARA community now as an external lawyer with my own firm. My membership in CARA over the past six years has been incredibly helpful to my growth as a Research Development Coordinator. I already feel confident in completing this course and being equipped to take on a career that fits my skills in research administration.

I first became a CARA member in 2017. Networking through CARA greatly enhanced my knowledge from day 1. Through CARAs partnership with ARMA, I am currently wrapping up my Certificate in Research Administration, and looking forward to further training through the Certificate in Research Management. Second, I got more involved with CARA as a whole and was able to make several connections across the country that I had no idea I would benefit from later in my career.

I learned a wealth of information from my peers in Research Administration, and from others who were new to the field through weekly online discussions and course assignments.

Winning the poster competition was an achievement I could add to my resume, and the cash prize covered the cost of the poster printing and helped with some of the travel costs, which are often beyond institutional PD funding. (AB) Director, Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Services (ARIES) | Centennial College, Sandra Crocker Associate Vice-President | Carleton University. Kaleb Antonides was very helpful with the logistics of setting up the webinar and walking me through the process. conference organizing committees during my tenure. To me, the spirit of collaboration includes sharing my knowledge with others who have the same interest in promoting quality research. I was pleased, honoured and excited about the award. So far, the best lesson Ive learnt is through writing the grant proposal. The mentoring program complements the courses in a positive manner. Being part of CARA has been a very positive experience for me - Ive learned, loved and grown in research administration a lot since Ive become a member. In my opinion, these course discussions are the "goldmine" we need to tap as research administrators in a field that is constantly faced with change. Taking part in theCertificate in Research Administrationhas already been a great help in my current role. Through CARA, I can access highly educational webinars on very relevant topics. This program is doing wonders to me - I committo contribute to the CARA community andwish success of the program. and rewarding experience meeting new colleagues and just immersing myself in Administrators - at first out of curiosity to what my employees might gain CARA has been of great personal and professional benefit to me as a Research Development Coordinator, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to broaden their research administration knowledge and networks. Thecourse contents are highly valuable in terms of building upon myexpertise. I volunteered to do The instructors have been really well organized, engaged, and responsive to suggestions. When the school receives its grant to start an outdoor classroom, they too will thank CARA for making this happen for their students and the nearby community.