Understanding the 2019 Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers
The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers is a significant agreement that aims to improve the working conditions and career development prospects of researchers in the UK. In 2019, the agreement was updated to reflect changes in the research landscape and emerging challenges faced by researchers. This article seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the 2019 Concordat and its implications for researchers.
What is the Concordat?
The Concordat is a set of guidelines that outlines the expectations and responsibilities of researchers, employers, and funders in supporting the career development of researchers in the UK. It was first published in 2008 and has since been reviewed and updated periodically. The latest version, the 2019 Concordat, is a revised version that reflects developments in the research environment and the changing needs of researchers.
The main aim of the Concordat is to create a supportive and inclusive environment that enables researchers to pursue their careers with confidence and without barriers. It sets out a series of principles that guide the actions of researchers, employers, and funders in achieving this aim. These principles include support for career development, recognition of contributions, transparency, equality, diversity, and inclusion.
What are the key changes in the 2019 Concordat?
The 2019 Concordat builds on the original principles while also reflecting contemporary issues and challenges faced by researchers. One of the significant updates is the inclusion of mental health and wellbeing as a priority area. This recognizes the impact of mental health on researchers’ productivity and career development and calls for measures to promote mental health support and wellbeing initiatives.
Another significant update is the strengthened commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). The 2019 Concordat recognizes the importance of a diverse and inclusive research environment in promoting excellence and calls for measures to address underrepresentation and biases that may hinder research productivity and impact.
Other notable changes in the 2019 Concordat include the expansion of the definition of researcher to include all those involved in research, clarification of the roles and responsibilities of supervisors and managers in supporting researchers, and new guidelines on working conditions, such as providing access to flexible working arrangements.
How does the 2019 Concordat affect researchers?
For researchers in the UK, the 2019 Concordat represents a significant step towards an improved research environment that takes into account their needs and aspirations. The focus on career development and recognition of contributions can motivate researchers to pursue their career goals with confidence and optimism.
The inclusion of mental health and wellbeing as a priority area also offers a more supportive and caring research environment that considers researchers’ holistic needs beyond their academic output. The strengthened commitment to EDI can help to create a diverse and inclusive research environment that promotes excellence and innovation.
Conclusion
The 2019 Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers is a significant agreement that aims to improve the working conditions and career development prospects of researchers in the UK. Its inclusion of mental health and wellbeing, strengthened commitment to EDI, and expanded definition of a researcher, are a welcomed evolution of this important agreement. By following this Concordat, researchers, employers and funders can create a research environment that enables researchers to pursue impactful and fulfilling careers without unnecessary barriers.
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