Research Staff Training and Development
Research is central to our mission at De Montfort University (DMU) and is at the heart of our vibrant academic environment. Support for the training and development of our staff is a key objective within our Research Strategy and we aim to provide for the needs of researchers at all points in their careers.
The Research Services Directorate was created to support the needs of our research staff and included within this is support of training and development. The Directorate coordinates with other directorates and faculties across the University with the aim of providing as broad a programme of courses and sessions as possible.
Research Students are also similarly supported – for more information contact the Doctoral College.
The Concordat to support the development of researchers
Research excellence comes from the enthusiasm of staff working within our faculties and institutes and so the recruitment, retention and development of excellent research staff is fundamental to our success into the future.
Recognising the crucial role played by research staff, DMU is fully committed to the principles of the 2008 Concordat to support the development of researchers. The Concordat sets out expectations and responsibilities of researchers, their managers (PIs), employers and funding bodies such as the research councils.
Overall lead responsibility for ensuring that DMU implements the principles of the Concordat sits with the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research. The following have direct responsibility for implementing the Concordat across the institution: Research Services Directorate, People and Organisational Development (POD) Directorate, Associate Dean's of Research, and Directors of Research Institutes.
In 2018 the Research Services Directorate initiated a new committee entitled the 'Concordat Operations Group' that reports to our University Research and Innovation Committee (URIC), demonstrating our commitment to these very important principles.
Researcher Development Framework:
The Researcher Development statement (RDS) and Researcher Development Framework (RDF) were developed by Vitae contribute to researcher training and development in the UK by providing a strategic statement (RDS), endorsed by Research Councils UK, Universities UK and other leading national organisations, and a more detailed operational framework (RDF). Together they support the implementation of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, and the QAA Code of Practice for research degree programmes.
Research Staff training and development at DMU is mapped to the RDF and we aim to reflect as many of needs of researchers identified by the RDF within our programmes. Full details of the RDS and RDF can be found on the Vitae website and a summary document is available outlining RDF.