Two decades of research skills, innovation and excellence
12 Feb 2024
National Centre for Research Methods celebrates its 20th anniversary with a bursary programme, an impact prize, spotlights on key contributors and a film of significant highlights
The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024 with a series of special initiatives.
NCRM is a partnership between our University, the University of Southampton and the University of Edinburgh.
Over the past two decades, the centre has helped to advance methodological practice in the UK through an extensive array of activities – from training courses that improve researchers’ skills, to research projects that develop new ways of gathering or analysing data.
Anniversary initiatives will include a bursary programme, an impact prize, spotlights on key contributors and a video highlighting some of its most significant moments.
NCRM’s Manchester team, based in the School of Social Sciences, has played a played a vital role in the success of the centre.
President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell 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.”
She added: “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.”
NCRM, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, and its partners now run more courses than ever before – around 50 a year. The centre has also significantly expanded its online resources, with more than 80 tutorials now available on the NCRM website.
It has traditionally focused on methods used in the social sciences, but its training, online resources, networks and events are designed for researchers in many fields of study.
Stian Westlake, ESRC Executive Chair, said: “NCRM have played a pivotal role in strengthening research methods capability in the social sciences and we congratulate them on reaching this milestone.”
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