Will the RDS replace the Joint Skills Statement (JSS)?

The ‘Joint skills statement' (JSS) was jointly issued by the UK Research Councils in 2001. It sets out the skills and attributes that doctoral researchers funded by the Research Councils are expected to develop during their postgraduate research degree programmes.

The Researcher development statement (RDS) is an evolution of the JSS; it updates the JSS and extends researcher development beyond the doctoral experience. All the skills and attributes of the JSS have been incorporated into the RDS and it is anticipated that it will replace the JSS as the key reference for development researchers' skills and attributes, and as the basis of a self-reflection tool for researchers at all stages of their development. A mapping of the JSS against the framework and vice versa is available within the RDF consultation.