The Researcher Development Framework for career development of research degree students
Alison [email protected]
Vitae®, © 2011 The Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited
Aims of presentation
About Vitae The UK Researcher Development Framework Using the UK Researcher Development Framework
ResearchersStaff supporting researchersInstitutions
Discussion
Vitae vision and aims
For the UK to be world-class in supporting the personal, professional and career development of researchers
Build human capital by influencing the development and implementation of effective policy relating to researcher development
Enhance higher education provision to train and develop researchers
Empower researchers to make an impact in their careers
Evidence the impact of professional and career development support for researchers
Researcher development in context
The UK is committed to the development of world-class researchers.
Researchers are critical to economic success
Researchers’ careers span a wider variety of employment sectors
Strong UK commitment to researcher development
The Researcher Development Framework (RDF)
Major new approach to researcher development
Builds the UK research base
Develops world-class researchers Enhances the personal, professional and career development of researchers
Developed through UK-wide interviews with successful researchers in a range of disciplines
Led by Vitae in collaboration with the HE sector and other stakeholders
The Researcher Development Framework (RDF)
Framework of the knowledge, behaviour and attributes of successful researchers
Enables self-assessment of strengths and areas for further development
Common framework across institutions in the UK
Universal language for communicating researcher capabilities
The Researcher Development Framework (RDF)
The professional development framework to realise the potential of researchers
The RDF developmentLiterature survey
definitions of research and research rolesLiterature review – competency frameworks
academic and related occupationsEmpirical data
experienced researchers audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews>100 interviews range of experiences, institution types, geographical context, disciplines, demographics>1000 characteristics and variants, clustered into common groups
Broad consultation 242 sector responsesEmployer validationAdvisory & Project groups
The Researcher Development Statement (RDS)
The Researcher Development Statement (RDS) is the strategic statement of the RDF:
for policy makers and research organisationsendorsed by 26 stakeholder organisations including the Research Councils, QAA, UUK and the funding councilsan evolution of the Research Councils’ Joint Skills Statement (JSS)
The RDS and RDF together provide: strategic statement (RDS)
operational framework (RDF)
Using the RDF and RDSResearchers:
identify strengths and priorities for professional and career development
Managers, supervisors and employers of researchers fundamental to planning researcher development
Staff supporting researchers in HEIsunderpins strategies for researcher development
Policy makers, employers and other stakeholdersrealising researchers’ potential for all sectors of the economy and society
4 domains
12 sub-domains
63 descriptors
The Researcher Development CPD tool
Choose a domain to develop skills
Click on the relevant additional buttons to access report, guidance notes and useful resources for personal and career development planning
Choosing areas for development
Assess your skills/knowledge
Lens on the RDF
Clusters of knowledge, behaviour and attributes
Identified using a special lens methodology
Intrapreneurship
Public engagement
Enterprise
Teaching
Leadership
Information handling
Intrapreneurial Lens on RDF
RDF Domain RDF Category Intrapreneur capability
B Perseverance A1.Persistence and resilience
B Preparation and prioritisation B1. Environmental scanning
D Networking; Interdisciplinary awareness
C1. Maintains contacts out of academia or own discipline
D Enterprise D1. Impact and influence
B Self-confidence E1. Self awareness
Example: mapping 1 section of Intrapreneurial capabilities
‘It put career development back into the forefront of my mind as it can often slip back when you’re engaged in what you’re doing day to day.’
‘The RDF will encourage me to be more proactive about my career development as it provides me with a framework (list of milestones).’
‘It was very good for me to reflect. I realised that nothing is stopping me but myself. The sky is the limit.’
‘I’ve always thought of myself as being quite ambitious, driven and focussed on what I want, but the framework made me realise I can have a much larger vision.’
Researcher feedback
Links and resources
RDF: www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf
RDS: www.vitae.ac.uk/rds
RDF profiles:www.vitae.ac.uk/rdfprofiles
Downloadable CPD tool: www.vitae.ac.uk/rdftool
Contact: [email protected]
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