The main ways of using the framework and who it is for

The Researcher Development Framework (RDF) is extremely rich in information covering all aspects of professional development for researchers.

The Framework is designed for:

• researchers to identify strengths and priorities for professional and career development
• managers and supervisors of researchers in their role supporting the development of researchers and is fundamental to planning researcher development
• trainers, developers, human resources specialists and careers advisors in the planning and provision of support for researchers' development and underpins strategies for researcher development
• employers, funders of researchers and other stakeholders with an interest in the development of researchers to provide an understanding of the blend of skills unique to researchers and their potential as employees and to realise researchers' potential for all sectors of the economy and society.

Researchers

• Focusing on specific sub-domains or a selection of descriptors in the framework makes the RDF easily accessible. The RDF Professional Development Planner is particularly useful as it allows users to select individual areas for development and highlights only these areas in the report. The RDF Professional Development Planner screencast provides a quick introduction of how to use the Planner.

Operational use

• Staff supporting researchers will find the Vitae guide ‘Mapping training and development provision to the Researcher Development Framework' useful to select appropriate material to meet particular course/session objectives and plan and review training/development provision to meet overall programme objectives. The RDF presentation provides a short overview of the RDF, which will be useful if you are presenting the RDF to others.

Strategic use

• Policymakers, funders of researchers and other stakeholders will find the associated Researcher Development Statement (RDS) a useful strategic overview of the RDF.