Employment
Module on the Researcher Development Concordat
This open-access
development module explores the Principles of the Concordat and the
resulting responsibilities for staff. The module serves to foster conversations
that nurture a positive and inclusive culture in which researchers take
responsibility for the development of their personal and professional practice.
As role-related training, the module will be available to new and existing
staff as needed, allowing them to refresh their understanding of the Researcher
Development Concordat.
Beneficiaries: Research staff Postgraduate researchers Research and teaching staff Teaching-only staff Technicians Clinicians Managers of researchers Professional support staff
Stakeholders: Researchers Managers of researchers Professional staff Senior/executive team
Concordat principles: Environment and culture Employment Professional and career development
Keywords: Training Professional development Research identity Research culture Induction Career progression Policy Equality, diversity and inclusion Research integrity Wellbeing Researcher voice Bullying and harassment Flexible working Job security Working conditions Performance management Career management Diverse careers Leadership development Research assessment Recognition Open Transparent and Merit-based (OTM) recruitment and progression
Postdoc and ECR Buddy Scheme
The Buddy
Scheme offers postdocs and early career researchers (i.e. staff on research
only contracts) the chance to meet new colleagues, expand their networks and
enrich their experience of the University’s research culture in an informal
setting. It is an opportunity to meet peers at similar career stages across all
faculties, to build connections outside of their research group and to enhance
their professional, research and social frames of reference. It is led by the
University of Liverpool’s Research Staff Association (RSA) and runs twice a
year.
Beneficiaries: Research staff Research and teaching staff Managers of researchers Professional support staff
Stakeholders: Researchers Managers of researchers Professional staff
Concordat principles: Environment and culture Employment Professional and career development
Keywords: Training Professional development Research identity Research culture Induction Career progression Policy Equality, diversity and inclusion Wellbeing Researcher voice Working conditions Career management Diverse careers Leadership development Research assessment Recognition
Researcher Development Roadmap for Researchers
The Academy’s Researcher Development Roadmap (RD Roadmap) provides diverse opportunities for
research and research-related staff to create bespoke development pathways in
support of their professional practice. The searchable RD Roadmap has been
designed for individuals to navigate the wealth of online content available in
a range of accessible formats to support career development and progression.
The RD Roadmap is updated on a regular basis and is designed around 4 key
topics: Career Confidence and Progression; Engagement and Influence; Research
Impact; and Personal Effectiveness.
Beneficiaries: Research staff Postgraduate researchers Research and teaching staff Teaching-only staff Technicians Clinicians Managers of researchers Professional support staff
Stakeholders: Researchers Managers of researchers Professional staff
Concordat principles: Environment and culture Employment Professional and career development
Keywords: Training Professional development Research identity Research culture Career progression Policy Equality, diversity and inclusion Research integrity Wellbeing Researcher voice Performance management Career management Diverse careers Leadership development Research assessment Recognition
Advancing in Academia - Career Planning and Thinking for PGRs and Research Staff
'Advancing in Academia' at King’s College London (KCL) is a four-week blended learning course for PGRs (doctoral researchers) and Research Staff who are considering or planning a career in academia. The course is designed and run in partnership with the researcher careers team at KCL and the College Centre for Doctoral Studies. The most recent version, in 2022, was run for people with dual academic and clinical careers. The course has run since 2017 focussing on different academic disciplines each time, and in 2022 it focussed specifically on clinical academics. Although the general principles described below apply to all iterations, the course run in 2022 represented the most challenging and also the most rewarding.
Beneficiaries: Research staff Postgraduate researchers Research and teaching staff Clinicians Managers of researchers
Stakeholders: Researchers Managers of researchers Professional staff
Concordat principles: Employment Professional and career development
Keywords: Training Professional development Research identity Research culture Career progression Equality, diversity and inclusion Career management Diverse careers Clinical
A training ‘bundle’ to support managers of researchers to fulfil their Concordat obligations
Managers of researchers usually step into the role as a result of them winning grant funding to employ someone to work on their project. They often receive no specific training as a manager, or to fulfil the many, diverse obligations that the Concordat places on them. Following wide consultation with stakeholders, we have developed a training ‘bundle’ to support managers of researchers to meet their Concordat obligations that includes advice, resources, signposting to policies and support, and bespoke training. All content is available on demand and delivered in ‘bite-sized' chunks.
Beneficiaries: Managers of researchers
Stakeholders: Professional staff
Concordat principles: Environment and culture Employment Professional and career development
Keywords: Training Professional development Research identity Research culture Career progression Wellbeing Working conditions Performance management Career management Diverse careers Leadership development
Profile of Academic Targeted Research Scheme
The Bournemouth University Academic Targeted Research Scheme (ATRS) was launched to attract and recruit talented early career researchers in targeted research areas, with the potential to become future research leaders. As an academic at Bournemouth University (BU), they are developing their career in an exciting work environment, provided with a high level of dedicated time to drive research activity and build capacity, and have the freedom to develop their research interests within targeted areas. Six appointments were made, which are still ongoing. The opportunity has led to strong research networks, collaboration, and time to achieve goals.
Beneficiaries: Research staff Research and teaching staff Managers of researchers
Stakeholders: Managers of researchers Professional staff Senior/executive team
Concordat principles: Employment
Keywords: Research identity Career progression Career management Leadership development
Research Staff Association
The University of Liverpool Research Staff Association (UoL RSA) supported by the Academy is a research community-owned and -led initiative. It provides a voice for research staff across all faculties, and a platform for communication and networking. It helps co-ordinate central support for researcher development and builds a researcher community that, through representation on committees and working groups, empowers researchers to be involved in decision making.
Beneficiaries: Research staff Managers of researchers Professional support staff
Stakeholders: Researchers Professional staff
Concordat principles: Environment and culture Employment Professional and career development
Keywords: Training development activities Professional development Research identity Research culture Induction Career progression Policy Equality, diversity and inclusion Wellbeing Researcher voice Bullying and harassment Working conditions Career management Diverse careers Leadership development Research assessment Recognition Research staff association (RSA) Community building
The Researchers' Group: an Institutional Research Staff Association
Strathclyde’s Researchers Group is an Institutional Research Staff Association. As a highly effective route for the Researcher Voice to be heard at an Institutional level, the Group allows the Researchers to be central to understanding and addressing all aspects of the Researcher Development Concordat while providing opportunities for the Researchers’ own professional, career and leadership development.
Beneficiaries: Research staff Postgraduate researchers
Stakeholders: Researchers Professional staff Senior/executive team
Concordat principles: Environment and culture Employment Professional and career development
Keywords: Training Professional development Research culture Career progression Policy Equality, diversity and inclusion Researcher voice Career management Diverse careers Leadership development Recognition
Research Culture Workshops
The University of Exeter's ambitious exploration of research culture in each department across the whole University using technology to promote discussion.
Beneficiaries: Research staff Postgraduate researchers Research and teaching staff Managers of researchers
Stakeholders: Researchers Managers of researchers Professional staff Senior/executive team
Concordat principles: Environment and culture Employment Professional and career development
Keywords: Training Professional development Research identity Research culture Induction Career progression Policy Wellbeing Researcher voice Bullying and harassment Job security Working conditions Performance management Career management Diverse careers Leadership development Research assessment Recognition Open Transparent and Merit-based (OTM) recruitment and progression
Researcher Forum and Faculty ECR Forums
The Researcher Forum at Plymouth enables the University to facilitate communications, consultation, practice sharing, development and support with our Researchers. The Researcher Forum facilitates discussion and networking between our researchers, managers, academics and staff supporting researchers and is key to supporting our researchers. Meetings are themed according to Concordat-related activities, University initiatives and priorities for researchers, for example: Concordat consultation, REF, career development, funding support, Open Access and, Impact. The Concordat Working Group works closely with the Researcher Forum and Research Staff representatives on Concordat-related activities, providing a pivotal link with our community of researchers. Faculty ECR Forums have been established for the Faculties of Health; Science and Engineering; and Arts, Humanities and Business. Faculty ECR Forums are conduits for information, consultation, representation, career development and support for researchers aligned with each group. Establishing Faculty ECR Forums has led to further opportunities for research staff through 'Faculty crossover representatives', which provides an excellent opportunity for researchers who are interested in developing their experience/research beyond their Faculty network.
Beneficiaries: Research staff Postgraduate researchers Research and teaching staff Teaching-only staff Managers of researchers Professional support staff
Stakeholders: Researchers Managers of researchers Professional staff Senior/executive team
Concordat principles: Environment and culture Employment Professional and career development
Keywords: Researcher ECR Forum Representation Career development Networking Collaboration Support Concordat Training Signposting Policy Equality, diversity and inclusion Research culture Research integrity Wellbeing Researcher voice Bullying and harassment Flexible working Open Transparent and Merit-based (OTM) recruitment and progression Induction Job security Working conditions Career progression Performance management Professional development Career management Diverse careers Leadership development Research identity Research assessment Recognition