Research Strategy and Innovation Office

Researcher development

Glasgow's Researcher Development Programme is managed by Research Strategy and Innovation Office (RSIO) and is overseen by the Researcher Development Committee.

Working in partnership with Graduate Schools, Colleges and key university services, RSIO coordinates professional and career development opportunities to support early-career researchers.  The aims of the Programme are to promote a vibrant research culture which supports development, training, enterprise and entrepreneurship, to promote community among researchers and to develop good practice in partnership with researchers, employers, funders and other stakeholders. 

Concordat for the Career Development of Researchers

The Concordat is an agreement between the funders of research and employers of researchers in the UK, setting out the expectations and responsibilities of each stakeholder in researcher careers – researchers themselves, their managers, employers and funders. It aims to increase the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers in the UK and to improve the quantity, quality and impact of research for the benefit of UK society and the economy.

The Researcher Development Committee oversee implementation of the Concordat for Career Development of Researchers which was launched at Glasgow in 2009 and new staff members recieve copies of the Concordat as part of their induction. The University of Glasgow supports and endorses the Concordat and is a regular contributor to national events relating to Concordat Implementation. 

The work of the Researcher Development Committee is informed by three key surveys:

  • Postgraduate Research Experience Survey
  • Careers in Research Online survey
  • Principal Investigator and Research Leaders Survey

These surveys help us to analyse current practice and understand researcher views regarding progress with Concordat implementation.  We also host regular research staff events and have a representative on key university committees to ensure research staff take a key role in developing strategy in this area.  

As part of its strategy for Concordat implementation, the University launched a Code of Practice for the Management of Research Staff.  In December 2010, the University was awarded the 'HR excellence in research' award from the European Commission in recognition of its commitment to supporting its researchers’ career, personal and professional development and management. Updates to our implementation plan are available on the research staff portal and through the annual research staff conference. 

Promoting excellence in researcher development
Our programme is designed to correspond to all areas of the Research Council UK-endorsed researcher development statement and aims to broaden researchers' skills and knowledge and support them in their future career, whether that's in academia or in other fields.

We work collaboratively with Graduate Schools, the Careers Service, research pools, Vitae, other Scottish Universities and employers to ensure that our provision is up to date and of the highest quality to support the needs of our early-career researchers. If you would like to discuss tailored provision for particular groups (e.g. a Doctoral Training Centres) please get in touch.

  The office runs over 80 courses and events each year, including

Contact

Elizabeth Adams, Researcher Development Officer