Vitae News: April 2024
Welcome
Welcome to the April edition of Vitae News.
This month we have:
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updates on the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference 2024
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news on the 3MT® competition
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as well as new resources for researchers, research insights, and news on improving research culture.
After a successful inaugural year, we are thrilled to be hosting the Vitae ICE Awards again.
The awards aim to celebrate the impactful and innovative work carried out by the researcher development community, acknowledging the significant contribution it makes towards helping researchers reach their full potential.
The Awards ceremony will be held on Monday 23 September as part of the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference Gala dinner at The Rep, Birmingham, UK.
The four categories for nomination are:
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Newcomer of the Year
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Outstanding Contribution
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Research Culture Impact through Researcher Development
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Innovative and Inclusive Practice
The deadline to submit your nomination is
Friday 14 June 2024 at 5pm GMT+1.
Events
Connections: Getting to Grips
Final places are available, so don’t miss out.
Taking place: Wednesdays 1, 15 and 29 May 2024 10:00 - 12:30 GMT+1, online
Are you new to supporting researchers in their professional and career development?
We have remaining places available for Connections: Getting to Grips, a development programme spread across three mornings in May 2024.
The sessions will each focus on a different challenge facing those new to supporting researchers.
Designed to forge connections between those in similar roles, and to facilitate practice sharing and discussion, the sessions are an opportunity for those looking to gain confidence in their role.
1 May 10:00-12:30 – Policy in practice
15 May 10:00-12:30 – Engaging researchers
29 May 10:00-12:30 – Leading and developing training
Be part of the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference 2024 (#VitaeCon2024)
Submit your proposal to be part of the VitaeCon2024 programme
There is still time to respond to the call for content for the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference 2024 (#VitaeCon2024).
This year our theme is Recognition. We will consider the importance of broadening what and who is recognised in the research endeavour, of fostering a sense of belonging, and how leadership at all levels can create transformative change.
We welcome proposals for online and in-person sessions, multimedia content and posters that align with the conference focus and themes.
The deadline is Friday 3 May 2024.
Book your place at #VitaeCon2024 – September 2024
Join us for our flagship annual conference, which is back online and in-person in September.
Online: Tuesday 3, Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 September 2024
In-person: Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 September at Millennium Point, Birmingham, UK.
This is an important opportunity to share, connect, and discuss the key topics impacting the professional and career development of researchers.
Member discounts and member-only 3-for-2 ticket offers are available.
Exhibition and sponsorship opportunities
Featured Exhibitor- Epigeum
Vitae are pleased to announce that Epigeum, part of Sage publishing, are exhibiting at the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference as Gold Exhibitors.
The Vitae International Researcher Development Conference attracts hundreds of global participants from across the research sector every year.
If you’re looking to reach wider professional development audiences, we have a range of exhibition and sponsorship opportunities to engage with our audience. Please see more information here.
For further information please contact: events@vitae.ac.uk
Member benefits
Challenging ableism through the Concordat
We were pleased to be joined by four excellent panellists at our Concordat Thematic Session on Tuesday 23 April.
The discussion reflected on what those with responsibility for institutional planning and implementation of Concordat principles are doing to address the barriers facing disabled research staff, and how they might influence systemic change.
A range of perspectives were offered, furthering understanding of how research environments can be made more accessible to all.
Those at member institutions can access the recording on our past events page.
Vitae Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition
Our 3MT® competition is underway - could someone you know be a contender?
Now that the competition has started, recruiting for the Vitae 3MT® judges has begun.
This is a brilliant opportunity to be part of an exciting competition and gain firsthand judging experience. Judges will be provided with full guidance and briefings. The deadline to apply is Wednesday 8 May.
The deadline to submit the finalist video for the competition entrants is Friday 28 June.
We will be issuing more information soon, so keep an eye out for important updates.
The lived experiences of early career researchers
A new collection of essays provides valuable insights into the lived experiences of early career researchers and potential solutions to the difficulties they face. Written by early career researchers and published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and the British Academy, they cover such topics as parenting as an early career researcher, chronic illness and disability, intersectionality, and the importance of supportive networks and mentors.
ESRC - Social Scientists to express their views
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) are asking for their short survey to be completed by social scientists to help the Council formulate a new approach to how they support research skills training and capacity building.
The survey is open until Tuesday 30 April 2024 and can be found here
The feedback will shape a new funding opportunity to implement the approach, followed by a new infrastructure investment in 2025.
Student and staff mental wellbeing in European higher education institutions-NESET
A new report on student and staff mental wellbeing in European higher education institutions highlights the importance of institution-wide approaches to mental health and wellbeing.
It identifies approaches implemented in different higher education institutions, with recommendations made around staff and student networks, and the development of holistic, whole institution approaches.
The recommendations reflect the key findings of the report around the importance of culture and environment, arguing that there is a bias toward individualism and competition over community and wellbeing.
Expressions of interest now open for REF 2029 indicators workshops
Submissions for expressions of interest to participate in the People, Culture and Environment (PCE) indicators workshops are now open.
The deadline for submissions of interest is Wednesday 8 May.
The online workshops will run from May until October 2024.
The workshops are a great opportunity to co-develop indicators for the assessment of the PCE element of REF 2029. The workshops are open to anyone with an interest in the REF, research assessment, and research culture in higher education institutions.
More information about the workshops and how to submit your interest can be found on the Vitae website.
UK launches national chapter of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA)
Vitae are delighted to be a part of the new UK National Chapter of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), which was launched earlier this month.
The initiative aims to foster collaboration, enable practice-sharing, and drive substantive change in research assessment practices nationwide.
As a member of the CoARA Boost consortium that provides the secretariat support for the implementation of CoARA, Vitae looks forward to providing a link between the UK, CoARA wider initiatives, working groups and cascade funding.
Get in touch!
Do you have questions about our work and activities?
Are you interested in becoming an organisational member of Vitae?
Benefits of membership include access for your organisation to a comprehensive range of resources, discounts on events, and member only activities, as well as being part of a connected network committed to supporting research professionals.
We would love to hear from you – you can book a call or contact the membership team at membership@vitae.ac.uk.
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