Vitae Research Staff Conference 201208 November 2012

Event overview

This conference focused on the role of research staff and research staff associations in leading and supporting sector change. The plenary had an international emphasis to reflect progress in setting up the International Consortium of Research Staff Associations (ICoRSA).

Research staff associations represent the interests of research staff and their colleagues by interacting with institutional management and administration, informing institutional policy, and facilitating the organisation of training activities and career development session for other researchers.  Research staff associations can be crucial agents in embedding the implementation of the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers (‘Concordat') and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) Research Environment.

Research staff are well placed to inform, represent and develop the skills and knowledge base of research staff colleagues in the areas that matter most to them. Research staff associations are in a unique position to co-ordinate the responses of research staff to policy changes that affect their working conditions, professional development and career opportunities and to ensure that the provisions introduced and delivered by higher education institution employers are tailored to their needs and that research staff participate in their development.

Participants:

• considered the role of research staff associations in leading and supporting change
• considered how to embed the principles of the Concordat for the career development of research staff
• discussed the REF Research Environment; demonstrating impact in research and the opportunities and challenges around professional placements
• learnt more about the International Consortium of Research Staff Associations
• explored an institutional approach to supporting research staff
• networked with their local regional research staff association
• discussed the opportunities for employers outside and inside of academia

Who attended?:

• Members of research staff who are active in research staff associations or those who wished to become so, including those who do not have access to departmental or institutional RSAs
• International participants interested in research staff associations
• Staff supporting research staff who are interested in establishing research staff associations