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RCUK commissioned analysis of 2004 and 2009 university reports on the use of ring-fenced payments for career development and transferable skills training of researchers (Roberts payments).

 The report informed an independent review panel about progress by universities in implementing skills-related recommendations of the 2002 Report of Sir Gareth Roberts’ Review by providing an overview of "distance travelled" between the 2004 outline strategies for use of the funds and 2009 annual reports.

This analysis summarises responses to RCUK’s 2011 survey of research organisations (ROs) regarding the impact of Roberts funding to date, responses to changes in funding and strategies to 2013.

The 2011 survey was voluntary and consisted of open-ended questions. 

The University of Strathclyde has a long standing reputation for education, research and teacher training in science, engineering and technology disciplines. In seeking to further enhance that reputation by achieving an Athena Swan Bronze Award, we wish to demonstrate how the university is allying its search for academic excellence with a concern for equality of opportunity and inclusiveness across the institution. The Athena Swan project has been instrumental in awareness raising across the University, and the engagement of staff at all levels within the institution in considering current and future practice.

A UK-wide process enables UK HEIs to gain the European Commission’s ‘HR Excellence in Research’ badge, which acknowledges their alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment. The UK process incorporates both the QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers to enable institutions that have published Concordat implementation plans to gain the ‘HR Excellence in Research’ badge. The UK approach includes ongoing national evaluation and benchmarking. This award recognises the positive actions that the University has taken to support the career development of researchers and the actions in place to implement the principles of the Concordat to Support the Development of Researchers. 

The document is based on a gap analysis performed in November 2010 which sought to map existing policies and evidence of good practice to the Principles and Clauses of the Concordat.  Actions were then identified where further work was required to ensure complete compliance, and responsibilities assigned. Actions highlighted are where new approaches or changes to existing approaches will be developed, identifying how these will happen and setting timescales.  These new approaches will then be implemented and reviewed at regular intervals.

Official pre-launch of the International Year of Chemistry 2011. An event held in Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on January 18^th brought together women chemists from 37 countries using modern communication tools; each country/region will arrange its own event(s) and individual breakfasts will be linked together by SKYPE/video, and by using Twitter.  In addition to networking, the aim is to celebrate the pivotal role of Marie Curie in chemistry, and to reflect on the current landscape for women chemists. 

Following consultation at the Research Staff Forum in March 2011 a programme has been devised and is scheduled to run for the first time in September 2011.  The programme exists as a one day event, but it is envisaged that following the initial event in September online content will be developed to make the Induction Programme available to researchers who need it, when they need it.

The Strathclyde Mentoring Scheme is being developed for Research staff to support their career development.  It will train and support mentors and match them with appropriate mentees who volunteer to be part of the scheme.  It will also offer on-going support for mentors who are part of the Scheme as well as those who are active mentors within the University but carry out this role informally. 

The current provision across the university of generic and transferable skills training was audited and then mapped to the RDF.  This allowed an analysis of provision to be carried out that will be used to inform and guide the effective allocation of resources.

The Researcher Development Programme (RDP) at Strathclyde offers all research students and staff a range of opportunities to continue their personal, professional and career management skills development. The courses, events and information sources aim to help researchers enhance their generic skills and competencies and widen their scope for future employability both inside and outside academia. The Researcher’s Portal is an online resource designed to support the RDP.

A strategy has been developed to support the achievement of the University’s Strategic Plan in terms of its statements relating to researcher development. A parallel operational plan lays out the key actions that have been devised with the aim of achieving the strategic aims.