Lancaster Launch of the Concordat to support the Career Development of Researchers

Lancaster was the first university to invite its research staff and people involved in supporting research and research careers to an event to raise awareness of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. The Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Professor Trevor McMillan welcomed the guest speaker Dr Iain Cameron of Research Councils UK (RCUK) who addressed the audience in George Fox Lecture Theatre 1 on Wednesday 2nd July.

Dr Cameron heads a team at Research Councils UK which spent two years working in partnership with all the major research funding bodies and Universities in the UK to revise a code of conduct for employing research staff. This is known as the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. It was launched in Westminster on Wednesday 25th June 2008 at a reception hosted by Ian Pearson MP, Minister for Science and Innovation. This coincided with the launch of a national organization called Vitae which supports the professional development of researchers and research careers, and incorporates UK GRAD and UKHERD. The Concordat aims to increase the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers in the UK, and explains the expectations and responsibilities of researchers, their managers, employers and funders. It will improve the way in which research can benefit UK society and our economy.

Lancaster University aims to recruit, train and retain highly skilled and motivated researchers, who in turn help develop its reputation as a great place to live and work. Our researchers come from all over the world and their work contributes to Lancaster’s international dimension and research reputation. Researcher career development is given special attention with dedicated training and career development opportunities designed to help them make the most of their research positions, and equip them for their next career move in an increasingly diverse, mobile, global research environment.

You can find out more about:

The Concordat see http://www.researchconcordat.ac.uk/

Vitae see http://www.vitae.ac.uk/

Researcher Development at Lancaster http://www.lancs.ac.uk/hr/development/research-staff.html

To contribute to the Lancaster debate about the Concordat please contact Barbara Tigar email b.tigar@lancaster.ac.uk