Vitae Annual Programme 2024-25
This year our annual programme focuses on facilitating connection, sharing and learning between institutions to tackle practical and policy challenges in researcher development.
We continue to support sector-wide discussions on research culture, advocating for positive and equitable research environments for all.
Alongside our programme of events and initiatives, the new Vitae website and refreshed Vitae Researcher Development Framework will enhance provision and help institutions meet the needs of today's researchers.
To help you plan ahead, you can see the dates for many of our events below, and you can register your interest to receive further information and be notified when bookings open.
Connect and create: addressing challenges for researcher developers
Peer mentoring circles pilot
Starting November 2024
An exciting new Vitae Peer Mentoring Circles scheme pilot, open to all Vitae member organisations. This initiative aims to support researcher developers through action learning sets, creating supportive spaces for sharing experiences, addressing challenges, and exchanging knowledge and best practices. This is a pilot project led by the Vitae Peer Mentoring Circles Steering Group and run by Vitae.
You can register for the pilot now (deadline 1 October 2024).
Open to those at Vitae member organisations (free).
Connect and create: researcher engagement
22 January 2025, 10.00 GMT, online
Our new Connect and create workshops aim to provide a space for those working in researcher development to come together to focus on shared challenges in a creative and collaborative way.
Engaging researchers in professional development programmes and initiatives is an ongoing, and almost universal challenge within researcher development. In this interactive workshop, we will focus on sharing and developing practical and workable solutions through group ideation techniques such as Brainwriting and Rapid 8's.
Open to those at Vitae member organisations (free).
Register your interest to receive further information.
Connect and create: CPD & wellbeing for researcher developers
18 March 2025, 14.00 GMT, online
In this Connect and create workshop we'll explore techniques to enhance your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as a Researcher Developer. Through facilitated activities and practice sharing, the workshop will help equip you to focus on your own professional development. This workshop will provide a safe space for honest and open discussion. However, you are not required to openly discuss your personal experience unless you feel comfortable doing so.
Open to those at Vitae member organisations (free).
Register your interest to receive further information.
Connections: getting to grips with researcher development
23 April 2025, 30 April 2025, 7 May 2025, online
Our series of sessions specifically for those who are new to supporting researchers in their roles will run again this year across three sessions on policy and practice, researcher engagement, and developing and delivering training.
Further details on booking will be released shortly; you can register your interest to be notified when bookings open.
Open to all - discounts available for those at Vitae member organisations.
Register your interest to receive further information.
Researcher development across borders: researcher careers
This theme of the annual programme aims to facilitate further collaboration within researcher development by focusing on building connections across international borders. We are pleased to be able to open these events to non-members through partial funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme within the framework of the ERA TALENT Project (grant agreement 101103476).
Researcher careers across borders
21 November 2024, 9.00 GMT, online
This webinar will bring together a range of speakers from institutions across Europe to explore existing initiatives and challenges in guiding researchers into careers beyond academia. The webinar will also introduce a new Europe-wide peer learning programme for those involved in researcher development.
Bookings will open soon - register your interest now.
Open to all - free
Register your interest to receive further information.
Building connections: peer learning across Europe
Starts January 2025
This Europe-wide peer learning program will facilitate cross-border connections among participants, emphasising career and professional development
support for researchers. Small, focused peer learning groups will be encouraged to meet regularly with the aim of sharing challenges and best practices
from diverse perspectives, providing an opportunity for focused knowledge exchange and the development of strong connections between participants.
The programme will be launched at the event above; you can register your interest now to receive updates.
Open to all - free
Register your interest to receive further information.
Policy and practice: informing the future of researcher development
The Vitae Researcher Development Framework refresh
12 February 2025, 10.00 GMT, online
Join us to explore the refreshed Vitae RDF and to reflect on what is needed to help researchers and institutions engage with the refreshed framework. There will be lots of opportunity to feed in your perspective to help in the development of any guidance and/or tools that will help the transition.
Open to those at Vitae member organisations (free).
Register your interest to receive further information.
Policy focus: mid-career researchers
12 March 2025, 10.00 GMT, online
This event will highlight the challenges faced by mid-career researchers and the policy interventions required to address them. It will explore whether and how existing initiatives, such as the Researcher Development Concordat, could be adapted to meet needs and drive change.
Open to those at Vitae member organisations (free).
Register your interest to receive further information.
HR Excellence in Research Award – drop-in sessions
Dates TBC
Informal drop-in sessions designed to support institutions with their HR Excellence in Research Award submissions.
Dates and times will be communicated directly to HR Excellence in Research Award contacts, but you can also register your interest if you would like to stay informed.
Open to those at Vitae member organisations (free).
Register your interest to receive further information.
Missed some of our 2023-24 events? Catch up on the recordings now.
