The Concordat to support the career development of researchers was published in 2008. Produced by RCUK and UUK, the Concordat sets out the expectations and responsibilities of researchers, their managers, employers and funders. It aims to increase the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers in the UK and to improve the quantity, quality and impact of research for the benefit of UK society and the economy.

The Concordat provides a framework for career development based around the following areas and principles:

A) Recruitment and selection
Principle 1: Recognition of the importance of recruiting, selecting and retaining researchers with the highest potential to achieve excellence in research.

B) Recognition and Value
Principle 2: Researchers are recognised and valued by their employing organisation as an essential part of their organisation’s human resources and a key component of their overall strategy to develop and deliver world-class research.

C) Support and Career Development
Principle 3: Researchers are equipped and supported to be adaptable and flexible in an increasingly diverse, mobile, global research environment.

D) Researchers’ responsibilities
Principle 5: Individual researchers share the responsibility for and need to pro-actively engage in their own personal and career development, and lifelong learning.

E) Diversity and equality
Principle 6: Diversity and equality must be promoted in all aspects of the recruitment and career management of researchers

F) Implementation and review
Principle 7: The sector and all stakeholders will undertake regular and collective review of their progress in strengthening the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers in the UK.

In order to address these principles, the university has developed an action plan over a two year period following both formal and informal consultation with a wide-variety of stakeholders including both research staff and research managers from across the institution. It has been approved for publication by the Research Strategy Committee and the Deans Group. The ownership of the strategic intent of this action plan lies with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)

The university's action plan

Download a PDF of the Concordat

The Research Concordat website