A Digital Future: transforming research management at Oxford

• Designed with staff in mind, the ORMS programme will extend the Worktribe digital platform and improve workflows across research management and will be rolled-out division-by-division from January 2027.
• Researchers and professional services staff who support them will have real-time access to their research portfolio on one platform, making it easier to collaborate and share information.

As I sat down to write this blog, it struck me – somewhat unexpectedly – that I’ve spent more than 25 years working in and around research. Over that time, I’ve seen the environment in which research is conducted evolve significantly; becoming ever more complex, more regulated and more interconnected.

While this growth reflects Oxford’s global research ambition and leadership, it also brings new challenges both for researchers and the people behind the scenes who support and manage research every day.

That’s why I’m pleased to share more about the Oxford Research Management System (ORMS) programme now that Council has approved the Business Case for the programme at its meeting in July. Aligned with Oxford’s digital transformation and Professional Services Together, it’s a long-term commitment to our research community.

As part of the University’s wider digital transformation, the ORMS programme is designed to ease the burden on our staff and radically improve their experience when managing research projects. It’s a people-centred initiative that will streamline processes, reduce manual work, and bring clarity and consistency to how we manage research – from proposal to project closure.

A platform built for people

At the heart of the ORMS programme is Worktribe’s digital platform that some of you may already be using for your ethics applications. Worktribe’s research management platform is widely adopted across other UK research-intensive universities. We’re building on that foundation to support the proposal development to project closure parts of research management. This means researchers and professional services staff will be able to:

• prepare and cost funding applications
• manage contract negotiations
• identify project risks early to make informed decisions and target support.

All of this can happen on the same platform, with real-time access to project information. No more juggling multiple systems or relying on spreadsheets and shared drives. Instead, Worktribe will offer a streamlined, intuitive experience that supports collaboration and transparency.

Smarter, simpler, more connected

We’ll also be able to unlock powerful analytics and reporting capabilities both within the system and by flowing data into the University’s data warehouse.

Crucially, this isn’t just a technology upgrade. It’s a chance to rethink how we work. The Worktribe platform requires configuration, not customisation, so will be co-designed with colleagues across departments, divisions and central services.

Together, we will review and redesign processes to ensure they’re efficient, user-centred and fit for purpose. In this work we will be guided by five design principles, which reflect the feedback from colleagues during the earlier phase of the programme:

• Be user-centred – We’re designing with people in mind, ensuring the platform meets the real needs of researchers and professional services staff.
• Be efficient – We’re streamlining processes to reduce duplication, manual effort and unnecessary complexity.
• Drive data quality and reporting – We’re improving how data is captured and used, enabling better insights and decision-making.
• Enable compliance – We’re embedding support for regulatory and policy requirements, helping teams stay on track with confidence.
• Be accountable – We’re making responsibilities and workflows clearer, so everyone knows who’s doing what and why.

Looking ahead

The ORMS programme marks a significant milestone – not just in how we manage research, but in how we support the people who make it happen.

Much of the work will take place behind the scenes over the following year or so, but the impact will be felt across the University. As we roll out the Worktribe platform from the first quarter in 2027, we’ll continue to listen, collaborate and adapt to ensure the platform reflects the needs and realities of our diverse community.

You can find out more—and get involved—via the ORMS programme webpages. We look forward to working with you.