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Use of employers and former postdocs to deliver a session addressing how to present commercial awareness during the application process.

Researchers are key members of academic staff. They are central to the College’s status as the leading centre for veterinary research in England, as well as its global aspirations. Beyond this, the College recognises that researchers make many other important contributions, for example in undertaking valuable research support, teaching and supervision duties, and as a vibrant group within the wider RVC community.

Following the launch of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, the College developed a Concordat Code of Practice and Guide which demonstrates the Colleges commitment to the provision of timely and effective support for Research Staff and their chosen career paths.

The courses and workshops outlined in our programme are designed to meet the needs of all groups of staff within the College and offer a wide variety of development opportunities in five key areas:

 

• Health & Safety

• Information Technology

• Leadership & Management

• Skills & Knowledge

• Wellbeing

 

In our 2009/10 training programme, we introduced a section specific to the development of researchers, in response to principle 4 of the Concordat. This section has continued to develop following feedback received from research staff, line managers and principal investigators.

 

Research staff may also attend any of the other Staff Training & Development courses offered in the programme.

This is a brief summary of the organisational model that we have adopted in order to work more closely with Schools, Faculties and Departments and 'partner' with them in understanding and providing for the needs of their particular staff in a ‘bespoke’ way where appropriate. This positions us better to target our resource towards meeting real needs, while striving for enhanced alignment between UCL’s research strategy and individual aspirations. This new model also enables us to work more closely in partnership with other key people deployed at a Faculty or Department level, such as Research Facilitators, Research Leaders, HR Consultants, Faculty Managers etc.

Workshops are facilitated by editors of high impact journals who discuss with participants key aspects within the writing process and the aims of the journal. Brief writing exercises on papers published by participants take place during the workshop. In addition, selected published articles from the journal are being discussed highlighting relevant points of interest that inform the writing process.

A two day summer school which provides research staff with a platform for development to do better research and to advance in their research careers. This programme is for new research staff, who are within their first 12 months of their first research contract. Day 1: Taking a Strategic View of Research: Getting Published and Seeking Funding Understanding the Vision and Research Strategy of the University Working Your Own Vision Personal Motivation for Research and Funding as a Career Strategy The Politics of Getting Published SWOT/ Skills Audit Day 2: Managing Projects, Teams and Funding Applications Project Management Approaches The Research Team – how you fit Getting Funding - What Works; What Doesn’t Esteem Factors & Your Researcher-Profile

The Talent Pool provides a unique opportunity for doctoral and post-doctoral researchers at all stages of their studies to engage with external organisations and develop into the next generation of academics, business consultants and entrepreneurs. The Talent Pool offers enterprise training that creates a network of students with various skills and ambitions who are able to make time for work experience, placements, internships, consultancy contracts or the chance to set up their own business, by understanding the important skills and strategies behind business ventures. The Talent Pool can be compared with other programmes that have been used at the University in previous years, such as Medici and SPEED.

A quarterly newsletter for research staff working at the University of Manchester written and edited by fellow researchers, highlighting activities, information and personal perspectives relating to professional and career development.

A fund for researchers within the Faculty to apply for, to cover costs of attending external events which develop their transferable skills.

A one day conference for research staff in the University of Liverpool. The day consisted of plenary presentations and parallel sessions and offered to research staff the opportunity to explore in detail three main themes: T1: Enterprising Researcher and Knowledge Exchange T2: Supporting Research Excellence T3: Funding and Fellowships Academic staff with PI roles, senior researchers and the University's senior management contributed to the day's sessions. An interactive Q&A panel discussion offered a very informative ending to a successful and highly productive day.