Vitae to be the first EURAXESS Career Development Centre

EURAXESS and Vitae, two well-established names in the researcher support field, have become officially linked as Vitae becomes the first national EURAXESS Career Development Centre.

Vitae, a UK-based international programme which champions professional development for researchers by promoting innovation and collaboration, is launching the EURAXESS Career Development Centre for the UK at their annual international conference on 8-9 September. Dedicated web pages aimed at international researchers interested in working in the UK will direct them to information and resources relevant to their professional rights and responsibilities and to career development options and opportunities.

Janet Metcalfe, Head and Chair of Vitae called this “a welcome and a natural alliance” and said “We will use the centre to build on the excellent resources already available to support researchers through Vitae and EURAXESS”.

EURAXESS has four existing strands to its support services for researchers looking to move into or around Europe: Services, Jobs, Rights and Links. The EC-supported initiative is expanding to include support for researcher career development and plans to establish further national Career Development Centres.

Kitty Fehringer of the European Commission's Directorate General for Research and Innovation said of the development:

“The opening of the first EURAXESS Career Development Centre by Vitae is an important step forward for the network. We have now enlarged the scope of the services offered to researchers by EURAXESS, and we are hopeful that this will kick start the opening of many more Career Development Centres across Europe.”

Vitae already works closely with the British Council, the EURAXESS ‘Bridgehead Organisation’ for the UK, to contribute to several EURAXESS-funded projects. It also supports Vitae UK members to engage in the EC HR Excellence in Research Award, promoted under the banner of EURAXESS Rights. The British Council-hosted EURAXESS UK website includes a wealth of resources for researchers interested in working in or with the UK, including a database of funding schemes with a UK connection, practical guidance on everyday living and help to navigate immigration requirements.