Cambridge gains recognition for researcher development

“I am delighted to announce that Cambridge and twelve other UK institutions have been awarded the ‘HR Excellence in Research’ badge by the European Commission,” said David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science..

“It is right that as we put research at the heart of our plans for future prosperity, we prioritise the development of excellent researchers able to capitalise on the impact of that research.”

There are now 23 UK institutions compared to just 15 other European universities to have the 'HR Excellence in Research' badge.

The ‘badge’ acknowledges that institutions have completed a gap analysis of their existing policies and practice against the Concordat, developed a robust action plan for implementation, and taken into account the views of researchers

The European Commission initiative aims to encourage a step-change in the way that universities across Europe recruit, manage and develop researchers.

In the UK, institutions can demonstrate their alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment through their implementation of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers which was launched in 2008.

Professor Sir Ivor Crewe, Chair of the Concordat Strategy Group, said: “The Concordat was launched with explicit recognition that research is crucially important to the UK - not just to the success of our academic institutions, but to the growth of our economy and society.

“Two years after that launch it is clear that UK institutions are putting in place policies and structures to ensure that research staff employment conditions and career development are central to university strategies.

“However, there remain some serious challenges for sustaining the research workforce in higher education, not least the importance of providing frameworks for career progression within an increasingly competitive environment of short term, and uncertain, funding.”

Professor Lynn Gladden, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at Cambridge, said: “We are pleased to be one of the few Universities who were able to participate in developing the European Commission’s policy and approach to ensuring good working conditions and career development for researchers. We are pleased to have received this recognition and will continue to support Europe-wide initiatives through involvement in policy development and its local implementation here in Cambridge.”

Ellen Pearce is Director of Vitae, a national organisation championing the personal, professional and career development of postgraduate researchers and research staff in higher education institutions and research institutes.

Also the UK representative on the European Commission HR Strategy Group, she said: “We are delighted that UK universities are receiving international recognition for their work to develop researcher careers.

“Over the last few years we've seen real progress in the way that universities train and develop researchers. From a recent survey we know that 70% of universities have embarked on an implementation programme to update their policies and practice.

“The challenge now is to maintain progress given the changes in researcher development funding. We hope that many other UK institutions will gain the recognition from the European Commission for their work.”