Introducing the Researcher Development Framework

What is the ResearcherDevelopment Statement?The Researcher Development Statement (RDS) isa strategic statement setting out the knowledge,behaviours and attributes of effective and highlyskilled researchers appropriate for a wide rangeof careers.

The RDS is designed for policy makers,businesses and research organisations thatprovide personal, professional and careerdevelopment for researchers. The ResearcherDevelopment Statement is an evolution of theResearch Councils’ Joint Skills Statement (JSS)and replaces the JSS as the key referencestatement for the development of postgraduateresearchers’ skills and attributes. Four domainsencompass what researchers need to beeffective in their approach to research, whenworking with others and in contributing to thewider society and environment.

Domain A:Knowledge and intellectual abilities

Domain B: Personal effectiveness

Domain C: Research governance and organisation

Domain D: Engagement, influence and impact

What is the ResearcherDevelopment Framework?The Researcher Development Framework (RDF)underlies the Researcher Development Statement(RDS) and represents a major new approach toresearcher development, to enhance ourcapability to build the UK workforce, developworld-class researchers and build our researchbase.

The RDF is a tool for planning, promoting andsupporting the personal, professional and careerdevelopment of researchers. It articulates theknowledge, behaviours and attitudes ofresearchers and encourages them to aspire toexcellence through achieving higher levels ofdevelopment.

The Framework is designed for:

� researchers to evaluate and plan their ownpersonal, professional and career development

� managers and supervisors of researchers intheir role supporting the development ofresearchers

� trainers, developers, human resourcesspecialists and careers advisors in theplanning and provision of support forresearchers’ development.

� employers to provide an understanding of theblend of skills unique to researchers and theirpotential as employees.

The Researcher Development Statement (RDS) and Researcher Development Framework (RDF)contribute to researcher training and development in the UK by providing a strategic statement (RDS),endorsed by Research Councils UK, Universities UK and other leading national organisations, and amore detailed operational framework (RDF). Together they support the implementation of the Concordatto Support the Career Development of Researchers1, and the QAA Code of Practice for researchdegree programmes2.

1 www.researchconcordat.ac.uk/documents/concordat.pdf2 www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/codeOfPractice/section1/default.asp

Vitae®, © 2010 Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited

ResearchermarketResearchers are critical toeconomic success, addressingmajor global challenges andbuilding a leading knowledgeeconomy.

“Recruiting creative andindependent people with highlevel skills is essential for asuccessful organisation.Postgraduates and researchersspecifically develop many ofthese skills as part of theirtraining. They are an importantpool of talent and may offercompetitive advantage to a widerange of organisations”.

Carl Gilleard Chief Executive,Association of Graduate

Recruiters1.

“There are over 14,000 peoplequalifying with research degreesevery year in the UK and over40,000 professional researchersworking in the HE sector”1.

How employerscan use the RDF Employers may find the RDFuseful for:

� exploring the kinds of skillsand attributes researcherstrained in the UK will bring totheir business

� considering professional andcareer development forresearchers working on jointdoctoral programmes orresearch projects with highereducation institutions.

Many key organisations endorsethe Researcher DevelopmentStatement. A full list of theseorganisations can be found atwww.vitae.ac.uk/rdsendorsements

If you would like to be involvedin the future development of theRDF please contact us atrdf@vitae.ac.uk

Professionaldevelopment toolThe Researcher DevelopmentFramework (RDF) has beenincorporated into adownloadable professionaldevelopment tool that enablesresearchers to identify theirdevelopment areas, create anaction plan and record evidenceof their progress.

“...in companies, and indeed inuniversities, many people do,and increasingly should, pursuea much more varied career path,for example, moving into newdiscipline areas, spending aperiod applying their work in acompany environment, or forindustry people in an academicenvironment, acting as advisers,consultants etc. This is all anintegral part of a researchcareer.”

RDF consultation response.

For further information on theRDF, CPD tool and otherresources, visitwww.vitae.ac.uk/rdf

About VitaeVitae works with UK higher education institutions (HEIs) to embed professional and career developmentin the research environment. Vitae plays a leading role in innovating, sharing practice and enhancingthe capability of the higher education sector to provide professional development and training forresearchers.

Our vision is for the UK to be world-class in supporting the personal, professional and careerdevelopment of researchers.

Vitae is supported by Research Councils UK (RCUK),managed by CRAC: The Career Development Organisationand delivered in partnership with regional Hub host universities

1 2009 Vitae, AGCAS, AGR Employers’ briefing: ‘Targeting the postgraduate and researcher market’,www.vitae.ac.uk/CMS/files/upload/Employers%20Briefing_8pp_A4.pdf

Income and funding generationFinancial management

Infrastructure and resources

Career managementContinuing professional development

Responsiveness to opportunitiesNetworkingReputation and esteem

AnalysingSynthesisingCritical thinkingEvaluatingProblem solving

Inquiring mindIntellectual insightInnovationArgument constructionIntellectual risk

Communication methodsCommunication media

Publication

TeachingPublic engagement

EnterprisePolicy

Society and cultureGlobal citizenship

EnthusiasmPerseveranceIntegritySelf-confidenceSelf-reflectionResponsibility

Health and safetyEthics, principles and

sustainabilityLegal requirementsIPR and copyright

Respect and confidentialityAttribution and co-authorship

Appropriate practice

Preparation and prioritisationCommitment to research

Time managementResponsiveness to change

Work-life balance

Research strategyProject planning and delivery

Risk management

CollegialityTeam working

People managementSupervisionMentoring

Influence and leadershipCollaboration

Equality and diversity

Subject knowledgeResearch methods: theoretical knowledgeResearch methods: practical applicationInformation seekingInformation literacy and management

LanguagesAcademic literacy and numeracy

Engagement, influence and impactThe knowledge and skills to work with others and ensure

the wider impact of research.

Knowledge and intellectual abilitiesThe knowledge, intellectual abilities and techniques to do research.

Research governance and organisation

The knowledge of the standards, requirements

and professionalism to do research.

Personal effectivenessThe personal qualities and approach to be an effective researcher.

Domain D Domain A

Domain C Domain B

Knowledge base (A1)

Finance, funding and resources(C3)

Creativity

(A3)

Pro

fession

al

con

du

ct

(C1)

Cognitive abilities

(A2)

Research

managem

ent

(C2)

Professional and

career development

(B3)

Working with others

(D1)

Self-m

anag

emen

t

(B2)

Comm

unicat

ion a

nd

disse

min

atio

n

(D2)

Per

son

al q

ual

itie

s(B

1)

En

gag

emen

t an

d im

pac

t(D

3)

Vitae®, © 2010 Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited