Vitae updates



Vitae Realising the potential of researchers - NEW PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENT
Website: www.vitae.ac.uk

25 June 2008...Vitae Realising the potential of researchers, the first national organisation to champion the professional and career development of doctoral researchers and research staff was launched today by Ian Pearson MP together with the revised Concordat to support the career development of researchers. 'Vitae will play a major role in the drive for high-level skills, innovation and in the UK's goal to produce world class researchers,' said Dr Janet Metcalfe, Chair and Head of Vitae, speaking at the launch event in Westminster today.

Vitae will become fully operational in September when the first Vitae Researcher Development Conference takes place looking at a new era of professional and development support for researchers in the UK. In the next 5 years, Vitae will focus its efforts in four key areas: effective policy development and implementation such as the now released new Concordat, sharing of practice and resources within the higher education sector, ensuring access to development opportunities and resources whilst building an evidence base to support researcher development.

Vitae works with all those with a stake in realising the potential of researchers, including universities, research institutes, employers and researchers themselves in order to provide specific support for researchers. "Vitae is passionate about valuing and developing those who are directly contributing to research and knowledge," said Ellen Pearce, the Director of Vitae. "By working together and establishing strategic partnerships between funders and national organisations and other stakeholders, we can champion the common needs and interests of all researchers."

"Increasingly, the UK is operating within a global economy. The future prosperity of the UK is dependent on our ability as a nation to further develop our research base and be innovative. Vitae will work with the higher education sector to embed the principles of the newly launched Concordat and encourage researchers to realise their potential", Dr Janet Metcalfe, Chair and Head of Vitae. Vitae is supported by Research Councils UK (RCUK), managed by CRAC: The Career Development Organisation and delivered in partnership with regional Hub host universities. It builds on previous work by the UK GRAD Programme and UKHERD.