RDF conditions of use

About the project

The Vitae Researcher Development Framework ("RDF") is a project funded and project-managed by Vitae and endorsed by Research Councils UK (RCUK) and other higher education bodies and institutions. Vitae is supported by Research Councils UK (RCUK) and managed by CRAC: The Career Development Organisation.

The 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 our research base. The RDF describes the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of researchers and encourages them to aspire to excellence through achieving higher levels of development. It will be invaluable for planning, promoting and supporting the personal, professional and career development of researchers in higher education.

The Vitae Researcher Development Statement ("RDS") is derived from the RDF and designed for policy makers and research organisations that provide personal, professional and career development for researchers in higher education. The RDS sets out the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of effective and highly skilled researchers appropriate for a wide range of careers.

In addition to the RDF and the RDS Vitae makes available associated documents and materials on its website, including but not limited to, briefings, information sheets, researcher profiles, PowerPoint presentations, training and development materials, the Vitae Excel RDF Planner Prototype 2010 and the RDF graphics. These are the "Associated Materials".

Aims and Objectives

The RDS and RDF have been developed empirically, based on research and validated through collaboration and extensive sector consultation. Vitae encourages UK higher education institutions to make use of them. The overarching purpose of the terms and conditions is to ensure that all users, researchers and institutions, benefit from the rigorous approach that has led to the RDS and RDF and the Associated Materials. The aims of these key terms and conditions are to:

• ensure all users benefit from the collaborative and rigorous approach to development by protecting the integrity of the RDS and RDF in their totality and the Associated Materials
• ensure that the RDF and the Associated Materials remain transferable so that researchers can use them throughout their development
• support the implementation of the RDF with a process that can enable the RDF to be adapted with Vitae permission to meet specific requirements
• protect the RDS and RDF from inappropriate use.

Key terms and conditions

Last amended: 31 August 2012

The Researcher Development Statement
The RDS (ISBN 978-1-906774-19-6) may be copied and freely reproduced, in any medium, by UK higher education institutions in the UK, RDS endorsing signatories and UK Research Council institutes, strictly for their own non-commercial training and development purposes, provided that in all cases:

1)    the original source is acknowledged as the ‘Vitae Researcher Development Statement'

2)    the following copyright statement is retained on the RDS ‘Vitae®, © 2010 Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited'

3)    where possible, the following link is provided ‘www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf'

The Researcher Development Framework
The RDF (ISBN 978-1-906774-18-9), which includes the domains, sub-domains and descriptors, and the RDF graphics and Associated Materials may be copied and freely reproduced, in any medium, by UK higher education institutions in the UK, Research Council institutes and by individual researchers who are members of these bodies only, strictly for their own non-commercial training and development purposes, provided that in all cases:

1)    the original source is acknowledged as the ‘Vitae Researcher Development Framework'

2)    the following copyright statement is retained on the RDF and all Associated Materials ‘Vitae®, © 2010 Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited'

3)    where possible, the following link is provided ‘www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf'

The RDF, RDS, RDF graphics and Associated Materials may only be modified, adapted, translated or have derivative works created from, if agreed in writing with a Vitae Hub Manager or a member of the Vitae central team in advance. For these purposes please contact your regional Hub manager or email rdf@vitae.ac.uk.

Intellectual Property Rights

All rights in the RDF, RDS, RDF graphics and Associated Materials shall remain with CRAC and, save as expressly set out in these terms or as permitted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, are reserved. The copyright and any other intellectual property rights in any adaptations or resulting from any use of the RDF, RDS and Associated Materials shall belong to and shall be assigned (by way of present assignment of future rights) to CRAC.

If the RDF, RDS and other Associated Materials are required for any other purpose, including but not limited to (a) reproduction, distribution or communication to the public outside the permission contained in these terms, (b) any commercial use, including exploitation in any way, sale or participation of any sale (c) use outside of the UK or (d) use outside of the UK higher education sector, please contact rdf@vitae.ac.uk or write to the following address:

Vitae
c/o CRAC
2nd Floor, Sheraton House
Castle Park
Cambridge
CB3 0AX

Disclaimer

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the Researcher Development Framework, Researcher Development Statement and Associated Materials are accurate and complete, CRAC is not responsible for any errors or omissions, factual or otherwise, and does not accept any liability arising out of any reliance placed on the information contained within these materials.

Variation

CRAC may revise these terms of use from time-to-time.  Revised terms of use will apply to the use of the RDF, RDS and Associated Materials from the date of the publication of the revised terms of use on our website.  Please check this page regularly to ensure you are familiar with the current version.
The use of the Vitae website is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Use.