The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers
The Researcher Development Concordat 2019 is structured around three Principles:
- Environment and Culture - Healthy working environments attract and develop a more diverse workforce, impact positively on individual and institutional performance, and enhance staff engagement.
- Employment - This principle recognises the importance of fair, transparent, and merit-based recruitment, progression and promotion, effective performance management, and a good work-life balance.
- Professional and Career Development - Researchers must be equipped and supported to be adaptable and flexible in an increasingly diverse global research environment and employment market.
Each Principle is underpinned by obligations for four stakeholder groups: funders, institutions, researchers and managers of researchers (PIs).
Who is the Concordat aimed at?
The primary beneficiary of the Concordat principles are those employed to conduct research (postdocs and early career researchers). It is to benefit the whole researchers community within the UK to improve the environment and culture within which research is conducted.
Organisations who wish to sign up to implementing the Principles of the Concordat must produce an action plan detailing how the principles will be implemented. The Concordat is owned by the sector and overseen by the Researcher Development Concordat Strategy Group supported by Universities UK. Institutions can gain formal recognition of their support for researchers in line with the RD Concordat can do so through the HR Excellence in Research Award.
The University's Action Plan
The University of York's Researcher Development Action Plan was co-created by researchers, PIs and Professional Support Staff as part of a rigorous concordat consultation process. Three RD Concordat Implementation Working Groups have been formed to take forward these groups. They include representation from PIs, researchers, Fellows and professional service staff.
Learn more about The University of York's Implementation of the Concordat and the HR Excellence in Research Process.