Researcher Development Conference 2008
Launch of Vitae Realising the potential of researchers
Vitae, a new programme to champion the professional and career development of researchers, was launched on 25 June by Ian Pearson MP alongside the new Concordat to support the career development of researchers.
Funded by Research Councils UK (RCUK) and managed by CRAC: The Career Development Organisation, Vitae builds on previous work by the UK GRAD Programme and UKHERD and is delivered in partnership with regional Hub host universities, Vitae will work with higher education institutions, researchers and employers to make real and positive change.
For more information about the new Vitae programme, visit the new Vitae website at www.vitae.ac.uk or download the Vitae brochure.
A fuller set of activities will be launched at the first Vitae Researcher Development Conference 2008: realising the potential of researchers on 8-9 September 2008 at the Novotel London West Hotel, London.
The Vitae Researcher Development Conference 2008: realising the potential of researchers will take place on 8-9 September 2008 at the Novotel London West Hotel. Download the Conference brochure.
The first Vitae Researcher Development Conference will focus on a new era of professional and development support for researchers in the UK. Significant and rapid changes in the global environment create both opportunities and challenges for building the skills base of UK researchers during the next five years.
The government and national stakeholders have stressed the need to increase the value of the UK research base, ensuring international visibility and respect. The importance of sustainable and attractive research careers is critical in a world where ‘the UK cannot compete on cost, [but] must raise our game on skills, training and knowledge’. There have been repeated calls for a new national framework for research careers. The focus on ‘driving up higher level skills that contribute to innovation in business' was outlined in the recent Innovation Nation white paper.
The revised Concordat to support the career development of researchers, due to be launched in June, aims to demonstrate internationally the high standards of management and support that can be expected by researchers in the UK. It creates a single framework for institutions seeking to meet the expectations of a number of different funders within the UK as well as the European Commission. It provides a new imperative to review and improve professional development support, particularly for research staff: ‘an overarching issue is how universities and vice-chancellors think of their research staff, in particular those at the start of their careers... there is an opportunity for mindsets to change.'
This conference will address the strategic and practical implications of a changing framework of support for researchers in the UK.
Within this, the conference will address 5 themes:
- strategies for sustaining personal and career support for researchers
- new models and approaches for understanding researchers as professionals
- supporting innovation and skills development
- understanding, developing and promoting researcher careers
- research, evidence and evaluation relating to the skills and careers of researchers
- explore the key issues in developing researchers over the next five years
- discuss strategic and practical approaches to supporting the skills and career development of postgraduate researchers and research staff in light of a changing global and national context
- share ideas and practice with a network of all those who have a stake in developing the UK's researchers.
- all those with a stake in supporting the development of postgraduate researchers and research staff in institutions, including:
- senior managers in research organisations, with responsibility for strategy, recruitment, training and management of postgraduate researchers or research staff
- professional associations and institutions including the research councils, government representatives and policy advisors
- research managers and administrators
- careers and HR professionals working with postgraduate researchers or research staff
- training co-ordinators, staff developers and trainers working with researchers.