Implementing the Researcher Development FrameworkA joint Vitae NW & YNE Hub good practice workshop

Programme

11:00-11:20

12:30-14:00

16:00-17:00

10:00 About the Researcher Development Framework

11:20What are the issues, challenges and opportunities in implementing the RDF?

11:50 & 14:00

Parallel discussion sessions

14:40 Finding solutions

15:50 Moving forward

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An introduction to the Researcher Development Framework Dr Vivien Hodges

Vitae®, © 2011 The Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited

Vitae vision and aims

For the UK to be world-class in supporting the personal, professional and career development of researchers

Build human capital by influencing the development and implementation of effective policy relating to researcher development

Enhance higher education provision to train and develop researchers

Empower researchers to make an impact in their careers

Evidence the impact of professional and career development support for researchers

Researcher development in context

The UK is committed to the development of world-class researchers.

Researchers are critical to economic success

Researchers’ careers span a wider variety of employment sectors

Strong UK commitment to researcher development

Researcher Development Framework

The professional development framework to realise the potential of researchers

The RDF

Major new approach to researcher development

Builds the UK research base

Develops world-class researchers Enhances the personal, professional and career development of researchers

Developed through UK-wide interviews with successful researchers in a range of disciplines

Led by Vitae in collaboration with the HE sector and other stakeholders

The RDF

Framework of the knowledge, behaviour and attributes of successful researchers

Enables self-assessment of strengths and areas for further development

Common framework across institutions in the UK

Universal language for communicating researcher capabilities

The RDS

The Researcher Development Statement (RDS) is the strategic statement of the RDF:

for policy makers and research organisationsendorsed by >30 stakeholders including the Research Councils, QAA and the funding councilsan evolution of the Research Councils’ Joint Skills Statement (JSS)

The RDS and RDF together provide: strategic statement (RDS)

operational framework (RDF)

Using the RDF and RDSResearchers:

identify strengths and priorities for professional and career development

Managers and supervisors of researchers fundamental to planning researcher development

Staff supporting researchers in HEIsunderpins strategies for researcher development

Policy makers, employers and other stakeholdersrealising researchers’ potential for all sectors of the economy and society

4 domains

12 sub-domains

63 descriptors

‘It put career development back into the forefront of my mind as it can often slip back when you’re engaged in what you’re doing day to day.’

‘The RDF will encourage me to be more proactive about my career development as it provides me with a framework (list of milestones).’

‘It was very good for me to reflect. I realised that nothing is stopping me but myself. The sky is the limit.’

‘I’ve always thought of myself as being quite ambitious, driven and focussed on what I want, but the framework made me realise I can have a much larger vision.’

Researcher feedback

Links and resources

RDF: www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf

RDS: www.vitae.ac.uk/rds

RDF profiles: www.vitae.ac.uk/rdfprofiles

RDF professional development planner: www.vitae.ac.uk/rdfplanner

Contact: rdf@vitae.ac.uk

Development and validationDr Julie Reeves

Development

The Core of RDF determined by profession Semi-structured interviews with > 100 researchersRepresentative sample: range of experiences, institution types, geographical context, disciplines and demographicsPhenomenographic method Results: > 1000 characteristics and variants, clustered into common groups

Refinement & validation

Core - refined and informed byLiterature survey

Specialist groups

Consultations

Feedback

Validation

End result = Sector Wide view

Interesting findings

Personal effectiveness not disciplinary differences

Passion and curiosityNot what you know, but what you do with it that counts - ‘at some point everyone is an expert in the subject’ (Professor - Arts)

Opposite of a PGR? - broad focus, ‘thick skinned’, able to transcend disciplineUnderperformers (not in RDF): overly-narrow focus, lack of confidence, career plan, ‘terror of rejection’, unable to balance demands of role, lack of deliverables

Unique features - USPs

Lot of choice!

Core of RDF is what the profession identified as important

Richness, depth, flexibility

‘Development framework’ - designed by researchers for researchers

Shift from ‘training & skills’ to ‘development’

Reflects whole sector’s view - stands as whole piece

Information and resourceswww.vitae.ac.uk/rdf Dr Emma Gillaspy

RDF/RDS

Project background

Background to the project

Consultation process

Project team members

Advisory group members

Research projects, literature reviews, methodology, presentation slides

Stakeholder groups

Specific information for organisations and individuals about how the framework will be used.

Policy makers and other stakeholders

Staff in HEIs with a remit for researcher development

Supervisors, principal investigators

Researchers

Employers

Glossary & FAQs

Implementation examples

Introductory materials

An introduction to the Researcher Development Framework

Vitae®, © 2011 The Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited

Graphics

Researcher profiles

Professional Development Planner

Future developments

Highlighting RDS release to HEI PVC and HR

Vitae training resources updated to include mapping to the RDF

Key messages leaflets for stakeholders

More examples of RDF use by HEIs

RDF background paper

RDF lenses and associated methodology

Resources for researchers

Examples of professional development planner including action plans

Dedicated RDF webpages for researchers

Professional development planning support

Researcher employability guide highlighting how the skills that employers want can be mapped to the RDF

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