University signs Researcher Development Concordat

The University of Stirling has become a signatory of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.

The Concordat is an agreement to improve the employment and support for researchers and researcher careers in higher education in the UK. It defines key principles of researcher development, which the University is committed to supporting, for research staff at all career stages and across all disciplines.

The Concordat, first published in 2008, provides a framework to support the career development of researchers in UK universities and research institutes.

A new Researcher Development Concordat was published in September 2019, following a review of Concordat’s impact over the previous 10 years.

Professor Judith Phillips, Deputy Principal (Research) said: “Signing the Researcher Development Concordat demonstrates the University’s ongoing commitment to support our researchers in their professional development. At Stirling we will continue to equip and empower our researchers to succeed in their chosen careers. Furthermore, by signing this Concordat we will work collectively with other institutions and funders to engage with initiatives to explore more systematic changes.”

The University’s progress in delivering actions related to the Researcher Development Concordat will be reported annually to University Court and the action plan will also be assessed through the HR Excellence in Research Award process. The University first achieved this award in 2011and has retained it at every subsequent two years.