Presentation by Alison Mitchell (Deputy Director of Vitae) at the Vitae event 'Preparing for the Research Excellence Framework: Researcher development, the environment and future impact' on 11 July 2012 in Manchester www.vitae.ac.uk/preparingfortheref

1. Preparing for
the Research Excellence Framework:
Researcher development,
the environment and future impact

2. Today‟s agenda
An overview of the REF
Institutional examples of research environments
with vitality and sustainability
Vitae‟s approach to the REF
Opportunities to
Input into future Vitae developments
Share and improve practice
Network with peers across the UK

3. Today‟s interests :
network, share, improve practice
Deeper understanding of REF
How researcher development can contribute to the „environment‟
and how to structure response
How can central function support UoA
E&D and code of practice implications for researcher development
Clarity on contribution of enhancing provision for PGR and RS to
competitive, healthy sustainable research environment
What does a high quality research environment look like?
Developing future research leaders

4. Vitae developments
Alison Mitchell

5. Vitae vision and aims
“For the UK to be world-class in supporting the
personal, professional and career development of
researchers”
Influence effective policy for researcher development
Enhance higher education provision to train and develop
researchers
Empower researchers to make an impact in their careers
Evidence the impact of professional and career
development for researchers

6. Vitae support for REF :
short and long term
Briefings for UoA and researcher developers
Concordat, HR Excellence, CROS / PIRLS surveys, Researcher
Development Framework
Stronger focus on research staff and developing research leaders
Continuing CROS / PIRLS surveys
Lenses on the Researcher Development Framework
Leadership
Impact
Knowledge exchange
New Leadership programme for principal investigators
Every Researcher Counts project
HEFCE with other UK funding bodies
Vitae ReSDAG response to REF

7. Every Researcher Counts:
important conversations and case
studies
The Researcher Development Framework:
senior managers, principal investigators and supervisors
should aspire to
„act as a role model when dealing with diversity and difference
educate, advise and guide less experienced researchers
set an example locally, nationally and internationally
help shape departmental/institutional policy and implementation‟

8. 4 domains
12 sub-domains
63 descriptors

9. Researcher Development Framework
Influence and leadership
Generates excitement about ideas
Recognises and encourages the contributions of others and uses
them to best effect
Offers ideas that encourage people to think differently: states
expectations clearly as a role model
Protects less experienced researchers in academic context
Demonstrates initiative and competence in leading people,
formally or informally

10. Researcher Development Framework
Global citizenship
Has global impact
Takes lead; sets example and agendas, and influences policy on
national and international scale
Society and culture
Actively seeks ways to enrich society and culture with research
projects and outputs.
People management
Creates nurturing/supportive culture for others
Ensures the implementation of equality and diversity
Leads by example, inspires others
Communicates vision.