Developing the next generation of research leaders

Summary presentation

Presentation slides from the day - available to members 

Revisit tweets from the event in our Storify

Event overview

Improved efficiency and effectiveness in the development of the next generation of early career researchers and academics is crucial for the growth of excellent research and knowledge leadership, affecting the UK's competitive positioning worldwide, and poses a strategic challenge for universities. Many research and academic leaders were themselves ill-prepared for the challenges and 'learning on the job' does not equip them to develop the next generation in the broad range of skills required for leadership in a variety of careers.

As they progress in their career, researchers will be expected to take on increasing leadership responsibilities through, for example, supervision and line management, engaging the public with their research, working in an open research environment, and influencing policy. Researchers are also the innovation powerhouse of universities and are taking that innovation into business through knowledge transfer partnerships, spin-outs, catapults, consulting, and entrepreneurship. Therefore, enabling researchers to realise their leadership potential through continuing professional development is key to sustaining and growing the quality, output and impact of research, creating benefit for institutions, research, economy and society.

There are crucial questions for institutions in meeting the need for efficient and effective development of leadership talent, such as

• Do the training and opportunities provided effectively meet the needs of the leadership of the future?
• Does the institutional climate enable and empower early career academics and research staff to meet their leadership potential?
• Do the available development opportunities respect and include the diversity of individuals and the diversity of future career paths?

This one-day event, part of our upcoming Focus on leadership, will include invited speakers and opportunities for networking and discussion, covering current topics such as:

• The changing nature of universities and the leadership of the future
• Researchers as leaders of innovation, business, policy, and integrity
• Interdisciplinary perspectives on preparing future leaders
• Training resources to support leadership conversations developed through interviews with senior research leaders
• Outcomes from CROS and PIRLS 2015 and messages for leadership development
• The lived experiences of principal investigators
• Leadership values and careers
• Integrating equality and diversity into leadership

Vitae membership discount is available for this event. 

This event is open to all stakeholders in the professional development of researchers as aspiring leaders, including researcher developers, staff developers, careers advisors, research managers, representatives of funding councils and charities, supervisors and principal investigators, senior academics and managers.

Outcomes of attending this event:

Senior managers and research leaders

• be aware of strategic implications for efficient and effective leadership development of the next generation of researchers
• ensure your researchers receive the professional development they need to reach their potential as future research, academic, and cross-sector leaders
• enhance the quality of leadership in your institution
• network with colleagues

Researcher developers

• enhance your understanding of leadership development and talent management
• design relevant and well-informed training and development opportunities to help your researchers achieve their leadership goals
• assess the leadership climate of your institution
• invest in your own professional development
• network with colleagues

Continuing Professional Development

Vitae CPD certification is available for this event and would provide appropriate evidence against the Careers Framework for Researcher Developers (CFRD), for example, in ‘Underpinning Knowledge’ and ‘Leadership and Engagement’.

If you're interested in this event, you may also like to consider submitting a workshop proposal for our next event: Vitae Connections: Leadership in researcher development, which takes place in Glasgow on the 28 April 2016.