The 2019 Concordat for the Career Development of Researchers was one of the most significant changes to the landscape of research career development in recent years. This agreement, signed by various stakeholders in the UK, aims to promote the personal and professional development of researchers in a structured and impactful way.
One key development resulting from the Concordat is a greater focus on researchers’ training and development needs. Institutions and supervisors are now required to provide comprehensive training to researchers regarding transferrable skills, research skills, and career development. This training is guided by the four key principles of the Concordat, which are; Environment & Culture, Employment, Professional & Career Development, and Research & Governance.
Environment & Culture is the first principle of the Concordat. It ensures that researchers have access to a supportive environment that is conducive to their personal and professional growth. The environment should encourage creativity, teamwork, and innovation. Additionally, it should be free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying.
Employment is the second principle that focuses on providing researchers with secure and sustainable employment contracts. It means providing fair remuneration, benefits, and decent working conditions. It also means providing a clear career progression pathway to help researchers’ transition to the next stage of their research career.
Professional & Career Development is the third principle. It aims to provide researchers with the necessary skills to be successful as a researcher in their field. The focus is on providing training opportunities in areas such as research integrity, leadership, communication, grant writing, and project management.
The final principle of the Concordat is Research & Governance. It aims to ensure that researchers have access to the necessary resources and support to conduct their research ethically and safely. This includes providing access to appropriate ethical review processes, data management, and sharing policies.
One of the main advantages of the Concordat is that it provides a unified framework for the career development of researchers, creating a level of consistency across UK higher education institutions. It ensures that institutions provide consistent, high-quality support to researchers at all stages of their professional development. This, in turn, helps to retain talented researchers who can contribute meaningfully to the research community.
In conclusion, the Concordat for the Career Development of Researchers is an essential development that is changing the game for research career development in the UK. Its focus on environment & culture, employment, professional & career development, and research & governance provides a structured and comprehensive framework for researchers’ development. Ensuring that institutions provide comprehensive training through stable employment contracts that prioritize ethical research governance and development will help researchers succeed, while generating better outcomes for the research community and society at large.
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