Postgraduate researcher experiences of using the RDF

Are you a Postgraduate (PhD) Researcher based at a UK institution who has used the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF)?         

If you have some time to spare, we would like to interview you to hear about your experience of using the Vitae RDF.

RDF at angle

The Vitae Research Development Framework (RDF) has been widely adopted by UK universities and higher education institutions (HEIs). It sets out the knowledge, intellectual abilities, techniques and professional standards that are needed to do research, as well as the personal qualities, knowledge and skills successful researchers use to work with others and ensure the wider impact of research.  

This project aims to understand the adoption and use by postgraduate researchers (PGRs) of the Vitae RDF as a career development and guidance tool. It will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to hear PGRs perspectives on using the RDF and how they are supported by their institutions in different phases of their career development. 

If you are a PGR at a UK institution, currently use the Vitae RDF as part of your professional and career development and would like to participate in these research interviews, please complete this short online pre-interview screening survey. The survey will ensure that different institutional, disciplinary and national PGR backgrounds and levels of experience of using the RDF are represented at interview stage and in the final case studies. 

If you are selected for interview, we will ask you:  

  • What were your first impressions of the RDF?  

  • How are you currently using it and how helpful are you finding it?  

  • How are you supported when using the RDF?

Man with laptop and mobile

Interviews will last for around 45 minutes and will be audio recorded and transcribed for qualitative analysis of key themes. Case studies using anonymised data from the interviews will be published by Vitae. Please see our privacy policy here for more information about how we protect your data.

If you would like more information, please contact Saumya Ranjan Nath (CHASE Research Assistant) at saumya.nath@vitae.ac.uk