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Research in the UK and Europe

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The Research Excellence Framework

  • The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the new system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions (HEIs). It will replace the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and will be completed in 2014.
  • The REF will be undertaken by the four UK higher education funding bodies. The exercise will be managed by the REF team based at HEFCE and overseen by the REF Steering Group, consisting of representatives of the four funding bodies.
  • The REF will inform the selective allocation of research funding to HEIs; provide benchmarking information and establish reputational yardsticks; provide accountability for public investment in research and demonstrate its benefits.
  • Have a look at this article from the Research Information Network, Making Sense of Research Funding in UK Higher Education.
 

The Concordat

  • The Concordat to support the Career Development of Researchers sets out the expectations and responsibilities of researchers, their managers, employers and funders. It aims to increase the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers in the UK and to improve the quantity, quality and impact of research for the benefit of UK society and the economy.  
  • The Concordat consists of a set of key principles for the future support and management of research careers, and under each principle, an explanation of how it may be embedded into institutional practice.

Research Councils UK (RCUK)

  • The Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils
  • Each year the Research Councils invest around £3 billion in research
  • The RCUK Delivery Plan 2011/12 - 2014/15 has been published as a report entitled Excellence, Impact and Efficiency.
      

Vitae: realising the potential of researchers

  • Staff in RS Connect are closely involved with initiatives coming from Vitae and the Research Councils. 
  • Vitae is a national organisation championing the personal, professional and career development of doctoral researchers and research staff in higher education institutions and research institutes. It encompasses UKGRAD and UKHERD, and is funded by the Research Councils.   It is managed by CRAC (The Career Research and Advisory Centre).
  • Vitae have developed a series of briefings about the Concordat which explore emerging themes and highlight practical examples of how it can be implemented by all stakeholders. In 2008 they developed a Vitae Briefing for Research Staff.
  • The impact and evaluation of researcher development and training: 2 years on was presented at the Vitae Conference in 2010.
  • Vitae offer a number of resources and events specifically for research staff.    
  • Their range of Researcher Booklets are also a useful resource.  There are currently three: Creative Researcher, Engaging Researcher and Balanced Researcher.  .

 Researcher Development Framework (RDF)

  • The Researcher Development Framework (RDF) is a major new approach to researcher development, which aims to enhance the capacity to build the UK workforce, develop world-class researchers and build the UK research base.
  • The RDF makes an important contribution to achieving the aims of the UK Concordat to support the Career Development of researchers.  
  • The RDF describes the knowledge, behaviours and attitudes of researchers and encourages them to aspire to excellence through achieving higher levels of development. Its aim is to help Researchers plan, promote and support their personal, professional and career development in higher education.   
  • The CPD online tool, the RDF Professional Development Planner, uses Microsoft Excel software and requires macros to be 'enabled' before it can be used.  Vitae have also produced a screencast, which gives you guidance on how to get the most out of this tool. 

UK Research Staff Association (UKRSA)

  • The UK Research Staff Association (UKRSA) was formed in 2010 with the support of Vitae to provide a national voice for research staff that informs institutions, funders, and governments, about the most effective ways to support them in achieving their career aspirations. Ultimately, the vision is to create a sustainable national research staff association with international reach, and one that is supported by research staff across the UK. 
  • UKRSA is comprised of a small advisory group of research staff and representatives from other organisations. The advisory group is keen to support diverse groupings of research staff across the sector in developing their careers (both within and outside academia), and so has made it a priority to form strong links with research staff groups in institutions and those attached to learned societies, as well as individual members of research staff. Through this mechanism they can represent your views to those who define research policy in the UK.
  • During 2011 UKRSA will continue to be represented in a range of ways across the sector, through involvement in local RSAs and their interactions with their institutions and in national advisory and steering groups.
  • If you would like to keep in touch with news from UKRSA, then you can find them on Facebook (search for UKRSA), Twitter @UKRSAVitae and LinkedIn (search for UKRSA), and there is also a UKRSA website. If you want to get a little more involved then drop the UKRSA an email at ukrsavitae@googlemail.com.

 

 Careers in Research Online Survey (CROS) and Principle Investigators and Research Leaders Survey (PIRLS)

  • UEA will be participating in both these surveys in 2013.
  • Results from 2011 are out now: PIRLS 2011 and CROS 2011


     Vitae UK logo  Research Councils UK logo crac logo  Concordat  
             

     

    Archive

    Concordat

    The Concordat was originally devised in 1996 and has been constantly updated since then.  The background to this project and the wide consultation and engagement with the sector during its development is available on the Concordat website.

    Research Careers Initiative (RCI)

    In response to the original Concordat (1996) the Research Careers Initiative (RCI)  was set up under the chairmanship of Professor Sir Gareth Roberts FRS, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, now President of Wolfson College, Oxford.  The RCI monitored progress towards meeting the commitments of the Concordat; and identified and encouraged good practice in the career management and development of contract research staff.  The RCI Final Report 1997-2002  is a record of what was achieved.  
     

    Roberts 'Set for Success'

    In March 2001, Sir Gareth Roberts was asked by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretaries of State at the Department of Trade and Industry and at the Department for Education and Skills to undertake a review into the supply of science and engineering skills in the UK. The review was commissioned as part of the Government's productivity and innovation strategy.   In 2002 'Set for Success': The Final Report of Sir Gareth Roberts' Review' made several recommendations relating to research staff, addressing the uncertain career prospects associated with fixed term contracts, unsatisfactory skills training and uncompetitive salaries.  These recommendations have underpinned the training and career development provision for researchers here at UEA.
     

    Careers in Research Online Survey 2009


    In 2009 just over 20% of UEA Research Staff participated in the national CROS survey, sharing their experiences of being a researcher in UK HE. The results are used by UEA to monitor the implementation of the Research Staff code and to inform decision making relating to the employment, training and career development of research staff.    The UEA Research Staff Working Group is mapping the UEA CROS results against the principles of the 2008 Concordat, to identify specific areas for improving implementation.  View the analysis of aggregated UK results (for the 51 participating HEIs).  View CROS 2009 UEA~UK results Comparison (760KB)
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