Implementation of ‘The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers’

The University’s refreshed Strategic Plan (2011:2.2.3) states that ‘Investment in researchers and researcher development will be a high priority, including support for early career researchers.’

Two key objectives are to: ‘Increase the University’s cohort of research active staff (including postdoctoral researchers), emphasising research leadership and establishing a work environment that is conducive to research and enterprise’ and to ‘provide a high quality physical research environment and infrastructure that stimulates innovation and supports world class research’.

This strategic direction provides an appropriate context in which to demonstrate how practice at the University is in line with the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. The University’s Action Plan for the Implementation of the Concordat demonstrates the achievements of the University to date to provide a high quality supportive environment for our researchers and details plans for future actions and review. The Action Plan was widely consulted upon, and has been endorsed by the University Research and Enterprise Committee.

A permanent Concordat Steering Group, including senior research representation from all faculties, is being established. This group will oversee the implementation and review of the Concordat.

Principle 1

Recognition of the importance of recruiting, selecting and retaining researchers with the highest potential to achieve excellence in research.

Principle 2

Researchers are recognised and valued by their employing organisation as an essential part of their organisation’s human resources and a key component of their overall strategy to develop and deliver world-class research.

Principle 3

Researchers are equipped and supported to be adaptable and flexible in an increasingly diverse, mobile, global research environment.

Principle 4

The importance of researchers’ personal and career development, and lifelong learning, is clearly recognised and promoted at all stages of their career.

Principle 5

Individual researchers share the responsibility for and need to pro-actively engage in their own personal and career development, and lifelong learning.

Principle 6

Diversity and equality must be promoted in all aspects of the recruitment and career management of researchers.

Principle 7

The sector and all stakeholders will undertake regular and collective review of their progress in strengthening the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers in the UK.

Further information on the support provided can be found at the Staff Development page - Researcher Development.

^{A UK-wide process, incorporating the QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, enables institutions to gain the European Commission’s ‘HR excellence in research’ badge, acknowledging alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment}