The leaders of NCRM’s three core partners have praised the centre’s impact as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
NCRM was founded at the University of Southampton in 2004 and became a partnership when The University of Manchester and the University of Edinburgh joined in 2014.
Together, the three institutions are helping NCRM to advance research methods across the social sciences and beyond.
The centre has 21 team members spread across its core partners and is now delivering more courses, events and resources than ever before, thanks to the support of nine training partners who joined the NCRM network in 2020.
NCRM’s role in the research community
Professor Mark E. Smith, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, said: "NCRM continues to lead the way in research methods training and innovation, and I am enormously proud of the centre’s outstanding impact over the past two decades.
"Its vital work has enabled tens of thousands of researchers to enhance their skills, forge new practices and make a difference to society with their research.
"The centre plays an essential role in the research community, supporting researchers in the UK and around the world. This reach extends far beyond academia, to those working in areas such as government and healthcare, as well as to the charity and voluntary sectors.
"I would like to congratulate Professor Gabriele Durrant for her excellent leadership of NCRM and express my gratitude to the centre’s team and partners for their dedication.
"The University of Southampton is one of the world’s leading research institutions and NCRM is a key part of our vibrant, innovative research ecosystem.”
Professor Jo Swaffield, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Southampton, said: "I’d like to wish all the team at NCRM many congratulations on their 20th anniversary. NCRM is a wonderful example of a research-led and research-focused national training collaboration funded by the ESRC.
"Our leadership of NCRM since 2004 – and partnership with the University of Edinburgh and The University of Manchester since 2014 – has shared our faculty’s excellence in qualitative and advanced quantitative social sciences across cohorts of social scientists.
"I thank all the NCRM team, across the last 20 years, for these important contributions, and particularly highlight my thanks to Professor Gabriele Durrant and her senior leadership team for the agility, creativity and dedication evidenced during the Covid years to ensure the continuation of our NCRM training delivery to the highest standards."
Support for researchers across borders
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: "The National Centre for Research Methods is an incredibly valuable resource for researchers at all stages in their careers, across different disciplines and sectors.
"NCRM’s focus on skills, innovation and excellence over the past 20 years has significantly helped to advance methodological practice and expertise.
"The centre provides important leadership – in training, interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of new approaches to research. The University of Manchester takes great pride in the pivotal role it has played in these areas since becoming a part of NCRM 10 years ago.
"The NCRM team in Manchester, led by Professor Mark Elliot, is an outstanding asset to our University – I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your exceptional work and commitment."
Training at all career stages
Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said: "Providing training for early-career researchers is of critical importance and it is an integral part of the University of Edinburgh’s long-term approach to research.
"As we mark this anniversary, it gives me great pleasure to be able to highlight NCRM’s exceptional contributions to research methods training over two decades and its support for researchers throughout their careers.
"It is fantastic to see what NCRM has been able to achieve as a partnership – outstanding courses for researchers around the whole the country, influential research programmes, accessible online resources and innovation projects that bring together experts across disciplines.
"These accomplishments would not be possible without the people who make it all happen and I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Professor Vernon Gayle and his NCRM team in Edinburgh for their tireless efforts and excellent work."
NCRM will announce further details of its 20th anniversary initiatives throughout 2024. Find out more.