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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 data have a number of limitations as a result. Response rate was 50% of all ROs in receipt of Roberts funding in 2010/11, but this includes 92% of the Russell Group and 1994 Group research-intensive universities where much of the Roberts funding was concentrated.

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.

Visiting schools and outreach events to give students the opportunity to meet the public and be the face of BAS.

An online survey of all science and technology postdocs at Cambridge who had a one-to-one careers appointment over the course of 12 months, to assess the impact of the guidance.

Your Career, Your Move is an annual, one-day, conference style event aimed at research staff. It has a focus on career development. A limited number of places on YCYM are available to late-stage PhD students and researchers from other institutions in the East of England region.. YCYM features a combination of presentations, workshops and panel sessions. The YCYM brand is intended to be identified in a broad sense with career development for researchers,with each year's YCYM having a particular theme. The three YCYM events run to date have focused on Developing Your Career via: 1. Success in Publishing, Using the Media, Winning Research Funding and Making the Transition to Research Manager. 2. Making an Impact- being enterprising both within the institution and without. 3. The Changing Research Landscape

An overview of TST courses in the Graduate School of Life Sciences addressing the entire Roberts agenda, and run across the whole school or within individual Departments and Institutes; but run for the individual student rather than for the yeargroup or the course.

A 2 x ½ day compulsory Introductory session for all new graduate students emphasises the importance of transferable skills training and provides an introduction to the nature of Research Degrees, the Cambridge University system, scientific ethics, enterprise and IP. It includes a wide range of speakers from Academia and Industry, with an aim to introduce at least two academic research names and one external business celebrity that the students will have heard of before arrival in Cambridge.

Cultural awareness

A new post (August 2009) offering careers guidance and information to research staff and fellows across the School of Arts & Humanities and the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences at Cambridge University (= 39 Faculties and Departments, c. 450 potential clients). Staffed by a careers adviser (0.5 FTE) and PA (0.4 FTE).